Key facts
- President Lee Jae Myung announced "tripolar mega projects" to boost South Korea's semiconductor and AI capabilities.
- The projects involve large-scale investment commitments from chip giants like Samsung Electronics and SK Group.
- Lee stressed the need for significant investment to secure "overwhelming" chip supply capabilities.
- The announcement comes as Lee's approval rating has fallen below 50% for the second consecutive week.
President Lee Jae Myung announced on June 29, 2026, that South Korea must undertake large-scale investments to secure "overwhelming" chip supply capabilities amid increasing competition in the semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) markets. The initiative, dubbed "tripolar mega projects," aims to achieve "absolute competitiveness" in advanced technologies and establish South Korea as a leader in the emerging AI era.
The projects will involve substantial investment commitments from major chip manufacturers, including Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Group, the parent company of SK hynix Inc. These investments will focus on three key areas: semiconductors, physical AI, and AI data centers.
This announcement coincides with a period of declining public support for President Lee. His approval rating has dropped to 46.5%, marking the second consecutive week below the 50% threshold and the sixth consecutive week of decline. Concurrently, his disapproval rating decreased to 49.5%. The ruling Democratic Party's support rose to 41%, while the opposition People Power Party's support fell to 42%.