President Lee Jae-myung on Tuesday pushed back against the conservative opposition's criticism of "government control," saying that regarding the recently announced "Three Mega Projects for Korea's Great Leap," "the very idea that things can be forced through by applying pressure, in the mindset of the era of government-controlled administration, is outdated."
President Lee made the remarks at the "Public Report on the Chungcheong Advanced Industry Development Vision" held in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, that day, saying, "When it comes to regional investment, some heads of local governments seem to feel stressed because residents point out, 'Why not our town?'" President Lee said, "Residents may feel disappointed when officials approach it as 'our town isn't getting a share' and get angry that it isn't happening," but stressed, "However, people who do politics must not follow along blindly and get angry in the same way." He repeatedly emphasized, "The role of local government leaders is very important."
President Lee noted, "Until now, Korea has pursued a growth strategy centered on specific areas of the greater Seoul region, resulting in severe imbalance and great harm from concentration in the capital area. Corporate activity has become burdensome, and the nation's survival has been threatened." He diagnosed, "The most important task now is balanced development, dispersion of the capital region, and locally centered growth. For the nation to survive, sustainable inclusive growth is inevitable." He then pointed out, "We should support companies to move into the best possible locations if feasible. This is not about handing out gifts," adding, "The idea that because a semiconductor complex is being built in Gwangju, another (investment) is needed over there? You cannot run companies this way."
In particular, President Lee said, "It is the job of the government and politics to make companies think, 'It would be better to invest in this region,' by aligning their (corporate) interests," adding, "Approaching it and getting angry with 'Why aren't you doing it for us?' without even making such efforts (is wrong)." He then raised his voice, saying, "In today's world, where is a case of a company relocating because pressure was applied?" and, "Some people even had that outdated notion that I made such a decision by pressuring Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee, but can investment be drawn in that way? That is an impossible story."
President Lee repeatedly criticized, "Shouldn't we create conditions in which the company in charge can actually produce results? A completely new world is opening up, and we must change our thinking too," saying, "The very idea that investment can be made to happen by applying pressure or forcing it, in the mindset of the era of government-controlled administration, is outdated." He continued, "You cannot survive doing it that way. We are not competing domestically but competing worldwide, and we must think in the most advanced ways that others do not," adding, "I said this because (at this rate) conflict and confrontation seem likely to keep arising."
Meanwhile, regarding Samsung Electronics' announcement of investment in a high-bandwidth memory (HBM) fabrication plant in the Chungcheong region that day, President Lee added, "I was reminded of the historic moment when the late Chairman Lee Byung-chull declared entry into the semiconductor industry in Tokyo in 1983," saying, "Just as that day's foresight made Korea today's semiconductor powerhouse, I am confident that today's decision by Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee will lead a new leap for Korea's advanced industries."
