Yongin Mayor Lee Sang-il: "Citizens Together Prevented Attempts to Shake Yongin National Industrial Complex"
[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Ki-ho] Yongin Mayor Lee Sang-il said on the 25th, "The attempts by some in the ruling faction to obstruct the construction of Yongin's Advanced System Semiconductor National Industrial Complex (hereinafter Yongin National Industrial Complex), which has been ongoing since December last year, have been thwarted by strong resistance movements of citizens alongside the mayor," and added, "I express my gratitude to all those who have made efforts to voice citizens' opinions in various ways, such as lighting candles in severe winter and conducting petition campaigns to protect the Yongin National Industrial Complex."
The mayor said in a statement that day, "As already announced to citizens through media and other outlets, Samsung Electronics' plan to construct six semiconductor production lines (fabs) at the national industrial complex in Idong and Namsa-eup, Yongin will not change despite attempts to shake it by those in power. I have confirmed this through contact with top-level officials at Samsung Electronics," and added, "Since Samsung Electronics is well aware that Yongin citizens have struggled with all their might to protect the Yongin semiconductor national industrial complex where Samsung plans to invest 360 trillion won, Samsung Electronics will never disappoint Yongin. I ask citizens to please be reassured."
The mayor said, "It is desirable for the nation's economy, centered on the semiconductor industry, as well as for the future of the country and Yongin that the Yongin National Industrial Complex, which I have been carefully promoting since taking office in the eighth term, is constructed as planned," and emphasized, "Related organizations must now work together so that this project can proceed with accelerated pace."
The mayor requested, "Since the project for site development of the national industrial complex has fallen significantly behind the original plan since the current government took office, the President must promptly appoint the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) president, the project implementer, so that LH quickly issues bidding announcements for the start of construction of plots 1 and 2 of the Yongin National Industrial Complex site development project."
He continued, "While the original plan called for bidding announcements in early this year and commencement of site development around June this year, as we approach July, bidding announcements have still not been made. This is very frustrating. The responsibility for the delay lies with the President and government, who stood by while allowing the shaking of Yongin National Industrial Complex to continue without promptly addressing it, and with LH, which made excuses about the lack of a president while failing to clearly call on the President to promptly appoint one."
The mayor said, "Since a power supply plan for the Yongin National Industrial Complex fab is already in place, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment must no longer be swayed by transmission opposition groups pursuing the 'National Action for Reconsidering Yongin Semiconductor National Industrial Complex and Transmission Lines,' but rather demonstrate the will to carry out the power supply plan established in May last year and take action."
The mayor said, "Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have resolved to make large-scale semiconductor investments in Honam and other regions as the current administration desires, and power supply plans must be established and implemented for those areas as well. It is the responsibility of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment to ensure that the power supply for Yongin National Industrial Complex proceeds as planned without disruptions going forward."
The mayor said, "When the announcement to construct Yongin National Industrial Complex was made in March 2023 during the previous government, plans to construct 14 other national industrial complexes nationwide were also announced," and noted, "Currently, three years and three months after that announcement, Yongin National Industrial Complex is the only one that has received government approval for the national industrial complex plan."
He continued, "Since the construction of national industrial complexes is a very necessary project for the country and the regions involved, the current government must promptly approve the national industrial complex plans for these regions and accelerate construction. It must not neglect these projects simply because they were initiated by the previous government."
The mayor said, "It was truly fortunate that the Yongin National Industrial Complex plan received government approval in December 2024, before the current government took office," and added, "Because approval was obtained so early, throughout 2025 we prepared well for compensation and began compensation on December 22, 2025. On December 19 of that year, Samsung Electronics signed an industrial site lease agreement with LH and clearly demonstrated its commitment to not go elsewhere."
The mayor said, "Four factors prevented the Yongin National Industrial Complex from being shelved: government approval of the industrial complex plan before the current government took office, the start and progress of compensation, the industrial site lease agreement between Samsung Electronics and LH, and the excellent struggle of Yongin citizens to protect the national industrial complex," and explained, "Samsung Electronics used this as leverage and offered gifts to Honam and other regions as the current government desired, while proceeding with the Yongin National Industrial Complex as planned."
The mayor said, "As long as Samsung Electronics does not reduce the Yongin National Industrial Complex or cut back investment plans, there is no particular need to oppose new investments by Samsung Electronics in other regions. However, I believe there are problems with the process and methods through which new investments are being made," and pointed out, "It is shameful and sets a bad precedent when those in power shake the Yongin National Industrial Complex and pressure companies to invest elsewhere, while companies hesitantly make forced investments as if watching for signals."