South Korea President Lee announces trillion‑won semiconductor and AI mega‑projects

President Lee Jae‑myung held a "3‑mega‑project" citizen report at the Blue House, unveiling a plan to invest roughly 1,600 trillion won in the semiconductor, artificial‑intelligence and AI‑data‑center sectors across the Honam, Chung‑Cheong and Yeongnam regions. Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Jae‑yong and SK Group chairman Choi Tae‑won pledged combined investments of about 2,600 trillion won, including an 800‑trillion‑won semiconductor fab programme in the southwest and additional funding for packaging facilities and AI data‑centers.

During the event Lee performed a 90‑degree bow to the two chairs, a gesture his staff halted before a full bow, calling them "national heroes." He promised a one‑stop administrative team under his direct oversight to accelerate project delivery, stating that the initiatives will shape South Korea's economy for the next 20‑30 years. The government also set a target to complete the new facilities within Lee's term, emphasizing speed and coordinated support from central and local authorities.