(LEAD) Lee urges earliest possible implementation of AI-related investment projects

President Lee Jae Myung emphasized on Monday the urgent need for the government to expedite the implementation of its AI-related investment projects. This call came during the second meeting aimed at reviewing progress since the administration unveiled three megaprojects in late June, focusing on a semiconductor production cluster, physical AI, and AI data centers in regional areas.

The primary project, the semiconductor cluster, involves a massive investment of 800 trillion won ($564.9 billion) from Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, earmarked for Gwangju and the surrounding Honam area. President Lee stressed that to achieve this, all necessary administrative steps should be taken concurrently, highlighting the necessity for improved regulations to ensure rapid implementation.

He urged officials to not only expedite the process but to do so with the swiftness of lightning. Additionally, the president ordered the transfer of a military airport in Gwangju to alternative temporary facilities by 2028, facilitating its transformation into a semiconductor production hub. The overarching objective of this investment initiative is to spread growth across the nation and establish regional areas as new centers for future industries.

President Lee stressed that the benefits from these advancements should not be confined to specific companies or regions, and expressed hope that the upcoming year would be a "golden time" opening up a new world for South Korea, contingent on how well officials prepare.