Key facts
- Lee said he would focus all policy resources on ensuring the megaproject delivers balanced state development and growth for all.
- The Chungcheong program is part of a "three megaprojects" initiative worth over 4,000 trillion won, Yonhap reported.
- The wider initiative aims to build a semiconductor production cluster and AI data centers in regions including Jeolla.
- Lee pledged government support through administrative procedures and infrastructure development for the investments.
President Lee Jae Myung attended a ceremony on November 12, 2026, at Samsung Electronics Co.'s semiconductor packaging plant in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, marking the launch of the Chungcheong region's portion of his administration's megaprojects, Yonhap reported.
The megaproject initiative, unveiled earlier this year, aims to build a semiconductor manufacturing cluster and invest in data centers and physical artificial intelligence technologies in regional areas, promoting growth in both advanced industries and underdeveloped regions.
Through combined investments totaling 392 trillion won ($294.4 billion), companies including Samsung plan to establish large-scale chip packaging facilities to turn the Chungcheong region into a packaging hub for memory chips.
The Chungcheong program is part of the "three megaprojects" initiative, worth over 4,000 trillion won, that seeks to build a new semiconductor production cluster and AI data centers in regions including the southwestern region of Jeolla.
Addressing the ceremony, the president said he expects the project to help drive a "great leap forward" in the Chungcheong region and lay the groundwork for South Korea to become a global leader in advanced industries. "I will focus all policy resources on ensuring that the megaproject initiative goes beyond expanding corporate manufacturing facilities into regional areas and helps achieve genuinely balanced state development and growth for all," Lee said.
He also pledged government support for implementing the investments through administrative procedures and infrastructure development, expressing hope the projects would provide new business opportunities for regional companies and merchants and create jobs for young people in regional areas. Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong, South Chungcheong Gov. Park Soo-hyun and Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan attended the ceremony.