Mayor Lee Sangil: "'Tearing Apart the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster' for Political Power Is a Gamble That Will Ruin the Nation's Future"

Lee Sangil, Mayor of Yongin, Strongly Criticizes via Social Media
Furious Over Political Attempts to "Disregard the Ecosystem" and Disperse the Cluster
Sharp Criticism: "The President Neglects, the Ruling Party Is Powerless"
"Yongin Semiconductor Must Not Be Swayed by Political Logic"

Lee Sangil, Mayor of Yongin Special City, has strongly criticized ongoing political attempts to "disperse and relocate the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster to provincial areas," calling such efforts "actions that will damage the nation's future."

Screenshot of Sangil Lee, Mayor of Yongin Special City, on Facebook homepage

On March 22, through his social media, Mayor Lee asserted, "Certain factions holding power are persistently raising issues with the Yongin semiconductor project, repeatedly attempting to separate and relocate parts of the production line (fab) to regional areas."

Mayor Lee pointed to a series of recent forums and seminars held at the National Assembly and in the Honam region as evidence of this “shaking up of the Yongin semiconductor project.”

He said, "An Ho-young, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, insists he will bring the Samsung Semiconductor facility (located in Idong and Namsa-eup, Yongin National Industrial Complex) to North Jeolla Province, claiming that 'politics is about making the impossible possible.' He seems indifferent to why companies emphasize 'Agglomeration Economies' to secure a technological edge."

Lee especially expressed deep concern about statements made at the "3rd K-Semiconductor Triangle Forum" held at the National Assembly on the 19th, where lawmakers Kim Jongmin and Jung Jinwook argued, "When you talk to people from Samsung and SK, the core logic from the corporate side is that cluster concentration is essential to maintain a super-gap in technology competitiveness. Concentrating resources in a Yongin-centered mega-cluster is the only way to maintain this gap. However, it is questionable whether R&D functions and physical production facilities (fabs) must be located in close proximity. In fact, it may be more effective from the perspectives of land efficiency and stability to have a dispersed layout. This deserves consideration."

The scene from the "3rd K-Semiconductor Triangle Forum" held at the National Assembly on the 19th. Screenshot from the Facebook page of Lee Sangil, Mayor of Yongin Special City

Park Junyoung, CEO of Hanbando Semiconductor, who served as a presenter, said, "The logic for concentrating in Yongin is simply a matter of individual company preferences, not a technological necessity. I propose providing incentives such as tax benefits and extra points for R&D projects if corporations or facilities are relocated to regional areas." Another presenter, Cho Youngtae, Vice President of Changwon National University, emphasized the need to foster semiconductor talent at regional universities and said, "Dispersing semiconductor companies to regional areas is advantageous from the perspective of supply chain optimization."

In response, Mayor Lee criticized, "While semiconductor company representatives say that cluster concentration is essential for maintaining technological competitiveness, politicians are pressuring for dispersed layouts under the pretext of national land efficiency, questioning whether physical facilities must be located nearby."

Mayor Lee also pointed out that academia and regional politicians are using "power supply and RE100 (100% renewable energy)" issues—often cited as Yongin's weaknesses—as justification for relocation.

On the same afternoon, an event titled "RE100 Semiconductor Industrial Complex and Corporate Attraction" was held in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province. At the event, Professor Jeon Younghwan of the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at Hongik University stated, "The Yongin National Semiconductor Industrial Complex faces problems regarding the construction of a power supply network and the utilization of renewable energy," and added, "It is inevitable to improve the dispersed structure of energy production and consumption and to transition to a decentralized industrial system."

The scene from the "3rd K-Semiconductor Triangle Forum" held at the National Assembly on the 19th. Photo captured from Sangil Lee, Mayor of Yongin Special City’s Facebook page.

In addition, Moonsoo Kim, a member of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party of Korea who represents Suncheon, held a seminar at the National Assembly the following day to promote the attraction of the "Suncheon RE100 National Industrial Complex." Mayor Lee pointed out that lawmakers from Honam, some pro-government lawmakers, groups opposing power transmission, and certain pro-government academics are all targeting Yongin, and their intention is the "dispersal of the Yongin semiconductor cluster."

Regarding this, Mayor Lee sharply stated, "Their true intention is ultimately the 'dispersal of the Yongin semiconductor cluster,' and this is nothing less than an attempt to hinder the project, regardless of the future of semiconductors or the nation."

Mayor Lee's criticism was not limited to external parties but was also directed at the government and ruling party.

He said, "The President appears to be neglecting this situation, and ruling party figures in Yongin are not even strongly rebuking those who continue to undermine the project. They simply repeat to citizens, 'Don't worry, we're not going anywhere,' which is a complacent attitude."

Suncheon City 'RE100 Semiconductor Complex and Corporate Attraction' Scene. Screenshot from Yongin Special City Mayor Lee Sangil's Facebook page.

Finally, Mayor Lee made it clear that he will not stand by as semiconductor strategies are altered due to political logic, stating, "Those who truly care about the future of semiconductors in Yongin and the country and have responded firmly so far must be appalled by this absurd situation."

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