Yang Hyang-ja "Lee Jae-myung, Is There a Will to Pass the Semiconductor Special Act... Those Ruining the Advanced Industry Are 'Maegukno (Traitors)'"

"National Advanced Industry Special Act (K-Chips Act, Semiconductor Special Act) Proposed in August... Stalled in National Assembly Amid Ruling and Opposition Party Conflicts"
"Government and Ruling Party Lack Political Power and Will to Persuade Opposition, Opposition Unwilling to Pass It Through Ruling Party's Special Committee"
"Those Who Destroy Advanced Industries Bury the Nation's Future"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Representative Yang Hyang-ja (Independent) urged the swift passage of the partial amendment to the Act on the Strengthening and Protection of National Advanced Strategic Industry Competitiveness (National Advanced Industry Special Act, also known as the K-Chips Act or Semiconductor Special Act) in the National Assembly on the 14th, saying "Time is of the essence" amid sluggish progress.

Yang Hyang-ja, Chairperson of the Special Committee on Strengthening Competitiveness in the Semiconductor Industry, is delivering a greeting at the 1st meeting of the Special Committee on Strengthening Competitiveness in the Semiconductor Industry held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 28th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

On that day, Representative Yang posted a lengthy message on social media titled "Traitors (埋國奴) who ruin Korea's future," expressing her concerns.

Yang criticized, saying, "Without industrial development, there is no economy or future," and added, "Failing to defend and nurture advanced industries is like burying (埋) the future in the ground." She replaced the 'mae (賣)' in 'traitor' (which means 'to sell') with 'mae (埋)' meaning 'to bury,' stating, "Those who ruin advanced industries are traitors (埋國奴) who bury the nation's future."

She said, "There are three types of such traitors in South Korea right now," first citing "those who use advanced industry policies as political bargaining chips."

Yang pointed out, "The National Advanced Industry Special Act (K-Chips Act, Semiconductor Special Act), proposed last August, is still pending in the standing committee," adding, "It contains the minimum measures for fostering the semiconductor industry, such as regulatory reform, investment promotion, and talent development, but it has not passed the National Assembly." She continued, "Many media outlets criticize this, and I have expressed my frustration in every interview, but it falls on deaf ears," analyzing, "The biggest reason is the deep conflict between the ruling and opposition parties."

She said, "The government and ruling party lack the political will and ability to persuade the opposition to pass this bill, and the opposition refuses to pass a special law created by the ruling party's special committee, calling it 'a good thing for the People Power Party,'" and questioned, "Is this a bill to benefit anyone? Is the development of advanced industries a goal of a specific party?"

Yang said, "All the Democratic Party members of the Industry Committee I have met showed full interest and will regarding the bill," but added, "Some honestly expressed a negative atmosphere at the party level."

She then addressed Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, asking, "I cannot help but ask Leader Lee: Do you consider the Semiconductor Special Act important? Do you have the will to pass it? If so, when will it happen?"

Yang criticized, "If the government only criticizes incompetence without proposing alternatives or fails to implement alternatives even when they exist, this proves that he regards the Democratic Party as a tool for political strife to protect himself," and pointedly said, "He has no right to complain even if accused of 'Lee Jae-myung's bulletproof politics.'"

Yang Hyang-ja, Chairperson of the Special Committee on Strengthening Competitiveness of the Semiconductor Industry, is announcing the achievements of the Special Committee's activities at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 2nd. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

She also criticized "those who divide by calling it special favors for large corporations and specific industries" and "those who misuse the theory of balanced national development" as the other two types of traitors mentioned earlier, warning, "If the semiconductor industry fails to gain momentum and falls, they will be forever enshrined as traitors (埋國奴) in our history."

She emphasized, "Korea's semiconductor industry is currently competing in advanced semiconductor production technology below 5nm, caught between the superpowers of the United States and China. To avoid being influenced by their conflict and its outcome, we must develop irreplaceable technology on our own," adding, "Taiwan plans to start mass production of 3nm semiconductors at the U.S. TSMC factory from 2026, and Japan aims to develop and mass-produce below 2nm by 2030. These competing countries are mobilizing their national power to protect their futures."

She continued, "I am anxious every day. How must those in the industrial field feel?" and urged again, "I repeatedly call for the immediate passage of the K-Chips Act in the National Assembly." She added, "Anyone who blocks its passage for any reason is a public enemy. If you feel guilty reading this, then you are the traitor (埋國奴)."

Meanwhile, the National Advanced Industry Special Act was enacted in February this year and has been in effect since August. Representative Yang proposed a partial amendment including measures to foster the semiconductor industry, which was submitted to the plenary session last September and is scheduled for legislative review on the 22nd.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.