Blue House: "Not Considering Relocation of Yongin Semiconductor Cluster... Decision Up to Companies"

Kim Namjoon Briefs on January 8
Debate Intensifies Over Yongin Cluster Relocation
Blue House Draws a Line: "Not Considering It"

President Lee Jae-myung is presiding over the Senior Secretary Meeting at the Blue House on the 8th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The Blue House announced on January 8 that it is not considering relocating the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster.

Kim Namjoon, spokesperson for the Blue House, stated this during a briefing at the Chunchugwan press center that afternoon, adding, "The decision to relocate a company should be made by the company itself."

This statement was made in response to a question about whether President Lee had given any directives regarding the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster during the Senior Secretary Meeting. As political and local community tensions escalate over calls to relocate the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, the Blue House has drawn a clear line against the relocation proposal.

The controversy over relocating the semiconductor cluster began with remarks from Kim Sunghwan, Minister of Climate, Energy, and Environment. On December 26, Minister Kim appeared on a radio program and said, "We are considering whether it really needs to be there or if we should move it to an area with more electricity, even at this point."

Since then, conflicting opinions have emerged within the ruling party. Ahn Hoyoung, a Democratic Party lawmaker who recently announced his candidacy for governor of North Jeolla Province, issued a public appeal on January 7, emphasizing the relocation proposal as "a matter of redesigning the axis of Korea's growth."

On the other hand, Kim Dongyeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, recently stated on social media, "The Yongin Semiconductor Cluster is a major achievement that President Lee brought to Gyeonggi Province during his tenure as governor, breaking through regulations in the Seoul metropolitan area for the future of the nation." He made his opposition clear. Lawmakers representing the Yongin area also expressed their opposition, calling the relocation proposal "self-destructive."