Ruling and Opposition Parties Discuss Fostering High-Tech Industry Specialized Complexes... Exploring Regulatory Relaxation and Regional Balanced Development

On the 20th, National Assembly Advanced Strategy Industry Special Committee
New Chairman Yoon Young-seok, People Power Party Lawmaker
Advanced Industrial Complex, Ruling Party Calls for 'Prompt Support', Opposition Urges 'No Bias'

The ruling and opposition parties sought support measures for the development of the domestic semiconductor industry and the fostering of advanced technologies at the '5th Advanced Strategic Industry Special Committee' meeting. The People Power Party emphasized prompt support for the creation of advanced strategic industry specialized complexes, while the Democratic Party expressed concerns about 'hindering regional balanced development,' pointing out that these specialized complexes are concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area.

At the Advanced Industry Special Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Su-heung pointed out that the national advanced industrial complexes are concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area, stating, "This will accelerate the extinction of local regions."

In March, the government selected 15 candidate sites nationwide for national advanced industrial complexes and, in July, designated seven advanced strategic industry specialized complexes in the semiconductor, secondary battery, and display sectors, as well as five specialized complexes in the semiconductor, autonomous vehicle, and bio sectors. During the report from related ministries on power and water supply for the seven national advanced strategic industry specialized complexes designated that day (Yongin-Pyeongtaek and Gumi for semiconductors; Cheongju, Pohang, Saemangeum, and Ulsan for secondary batteries; Cheonan-Asan for displays), lawmaker Kim mentioned the concentration of these specialized complexes in the Seoul metropolitan area, criticizing, "They say it is for global competition, but it is creating a first-class system centered on the Seoul metropolitan area."

People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sik also said, "Looking at the budget invested in the seven specialized complexes, there is a significant difference between local areas and the Seoul metropolitan area," adding, "The Seoul metropolitan area receives a lot of infrastructure support such as electricity and water, but local areas like Gumi are in desperate need of infrastructure support." However, lawmaker Kim urged prompt support, saying, "Budgets should be quickly provided according to the region."

Yang Hyang-ja, a lawmaker from Korea's Hope, emphasized deregulation for the timely establishment of the Yongin cluster. Lawmaker Yang said, "17.2% of the Yongin semiconductor cluster site is located within the Songtan water intake facility and water source protection area," adding, "The key to the timely establishment of the Yongin cluster is the lifting of the Songtan water source protection area." She pointed out, "A solution has not yet been found, so delays are expected," and noted, "They said construction would start in 2026, but if things continue like this, it will be delayed."

Meanwhile, on the same day, the chairperson of the Advanced Strategic Industry Special Committee was replaced from three-term People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Ui-dong to three-term lawmaker Yoon Young-seok of the same party. Lawmaker Yoo stepped down from the chairperson position and resigned from the committee as he took on the role of the People Power Party Policy Committee Chairperson. Lawmaker Yoon was appointed to fill Yoo’s position and was elected as the new chairperson at the committee plenary meeting that day upon the oral recommendation of People Power Party lawmaker Yang Geum-hee.

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