South Korean President Lee Jae Myung highlighted the importance of public backing for the government’s efforts to achieve balanced regional development and reduce overreliance on the Seoul metropolitan area. He outlined plans to establish five major regional hubs and three special self-governing provinces to drive new growth across the country. Lee acknowledged challenges from entrenched interests but stressed the necessity of public understanding and support for these initiatives.
Decrying decades of resource concentration in Seoul, Lee pointed to issues like soaring housing costs and infrastructure limitations hindering the establishment of new semiconductor plants. He framed decentralization and balanced growth as critical strategies for national survival rather than mere concessions. Lee also underscored the urgency of promoting advanced industries like artificial intelligence (AI), positioning Ulsan as a key player in AI development given its robust manufacturing sector.
Ulsan, known for its industrial prowess in automotive, shipbuilding, and petrochemicals, is set to host South Korea’s largest AI data center in collaboration with SK Group and Amazon Web Services. Lee emphasized the inevitability of AI-driven transformations and called for proactive adaptation to secure a leading role in this technological shift. He urged swift progress towards AI-centric manufacturing, leveraging the country’s existing strengths and committing to significant investments to elevate Ulsan’s status as a major industrial hub.
