What did Lee Jae Myung say is the key to the success of South Korea’s three megaprojects?

Lee said the key is creating the right living conditions for workers and their families. He said the projects should be built together with housing, education, medical services and culture in the same development plan.

Who attended the meeting on South Korea’s three megaprojects at Cheong Wa Dae?

The meeting included relevant ministers, presidential officials and senior executives from Samsung and SK. It was the third public-private meeting on progress in the initiative.

What is the goal of South Korea’s three megaprojects beyond building chip and AI facilities?

Lee said the broader goal is to attract young people and talent to regions outside the capital area in search of jobs. He added that the plan is meant to spread the benefits of growth more evenly across regions and people.

Lee says success of 3 megaprojects depends on creating right living conditions

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Summary

President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday that the success of the government’s three megaprojects will depend on creating proper living conditions for workers and their families. He said the plan should combine industrial complexes with housing, education, medical services and culture. Lee also said the projects aim to draw young people and talent to regions outside the capital area and spread growth more evenly.

Key Facts

The meeting took place at Cheong Wa Dae and brought together relevant ministers, presidential officials and senior executives from Samsung and SK.
The initiative focuses on hubs for semiconductors, physical AI and AI data centers across the nation.
Lee said local residents must be persuaded that the strategic industries will improve their lives.
He called for clear individual responsibilities and overall timeline management to avoid delays in investment and identify problems early.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 29, 2026 4:55 pm KST

President Lee Jae Myung attends a public-private meeting on the government's megaprojects initiative at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday the success of the government's "three megaprojects" initiative centered on building up the semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) industries will depend on creating the right living conditions for workers and their families.

Lee made the remark at the third public-private meeting discussing progress on the initiative, which focuses on developing hubs for semiconductors, physical AI and AI data centers across the nation.

"Today we will focus our discussions on ways to create living conditions, which could be called the key to the project's success," he said at the meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, which brought together relevant ministers and presidential officials, as well as senior executives from Samsung and SK.

"The megaprojects' ultimate goal is for young people and talents to flock to regions (outside the capital area) in search of jobs, and for all regions and people to evenly enjoy the benefits of growth," he said.

Lee went on to explain that the projects should be pursued under a combined plan for the construction of industrial complexes and living areas featuring housing, education, medical services and culture.

In addition, he stressed the importance of convincing local residents that the cutting-edge strategic industries being brought to their doorsteps will change their lives for the better.

"We must do our best to move this plan forward without delays, with a sense of purpose that the future of our Republic of Korea will change depending on the success of the three megaprojects," Lee said, referring to Korea by its official name.

"We must also clearly define our individual responsibilities, while jointly managing the overall timeline to ensure no delays in investments and find any delaying factors in advance to come up with solutions," he added.

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