ASAN — South Korean President Lee Jae-myung toured Samsung Electronics’ advanced chip packaging construction site in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, on Thursday. The visit highlighted a major government push to accelerate large-scale private investments while ensuring that the wealth generated by high-tech industries reaches local small businesses and regional economies.

President Lee participated in the official groundbreaking ceremony for the Chungcheong Megaproject at Samsung’s Onyang Campus, an event themed "Korea’s Super-Gap Unfolds in Chungcheong." The initiative marks a significant step forward for regional infrastructure, centering on Samsung’s new semiconductor advanced packaging fabrication plant.

Key figures attending the ceremony included Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, key corporate executives, the Minister of Finance and Economy, other cabinet ministers, and regional provincial leaders.

Addressing the gathering, President Lee praised Samsung’s leadership for their decisive investment strategy. He stressed that the administration is fully dedicated to backing corporate infrastructure projects to maintain South Korea’s competitive edge in semiconductors. Crucially, President Lee noted that the project must transcend standard industrial expansion to become a model of shared prosperity—delivering tangible economic momentum, job opportunities, and business prospects to local suppliers and small-business owners in the Chungcheong region.

Praising local government officials for cutting through red tape and fast-tracking administrative permits, the President reiterated that central and local authorities are operating as a unified front to clear any obstacles hindering business investments.

Following the groundbreaking ritual—which featured local students, corporate workers, and executives wielding ceremonial shovels—President Lee convened the nation’s fourth Public-Private Joint Inspection Meeting.

During the session, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy unveiled its comprehensive support framework for the Chungcheong project, while provincial leadership detailed localized incentives. Meanwhile, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups introduced frameworks to integrate local enterprises deeper into the supply chain. Tech giants Samsung Electronics and SK hynix also outlined specific partnership strategies aimed at fostering cooperative growth with regional subcontractors.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]