Lee Jae‑myung’s Honam semiconductor cluster fuels political fight

Opposition lawmakers led by People Power Party leader Jang Dong‑hyuk criticised President Lee Jae‑myung for raising a "selective conscription" proposal and for pushing a Honam‑region semiconductor cluster backed by Samsung and SK Hynix. Jang called the plan a political “forced requisition” of private industry, warned it could damage the national economy and demanded the dismissal of Defence Minister An Gyubeak.

The controversy expanded as the ruling party faced accusations of abusing presidential power to direct hundreds of trillions of won in investment to the Honam region. Figures such as Ahn Cheol‑soo, Na Kyung‑won and other opposition MPs labeled the move a “clear abuse of authority” and a “political weapon” that undermines market‑driven decision‑making. They also protested the government's handling of a recent ballot‑paper shortage, urging a special investigation and citing a petition that has gathered over 160,000 signatures.

In parallel, the Democratic Party announced plans to amend the constitution to dissolve the Central Election Commission, aiming to increase transparency and subject it to audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection. The People Power Party, however, insisted that a special probe into the ballot‑paper issue should take priority over any constitutional changes.