Kang Hoon-sik recalls Lee Jae-yong's words about Asan's past as firms pledge 392 trillion won for Chungcheong

Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, who attended a public briefing on the Chungcheong region's advanced-industry development vision, pledged to give "every ounce of support" to the large-scale investment commitments announced by Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, Celltrion and other companies.

According to political circles Thursday, Kang wrote on his social media account after Wednesday's briefing that he was moved by Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong's remark that "Asan, in this very spot, was a vast vineyard some 30 years ago." "Hearing those words, I too was taken back to that era," Kang wrote.

Kang, who is from Asan in South Chungcheong Province, said that vineyard has since become the world's largest display complex, and that Samsung's other campuses in the Chungcheong region — in Onyang, Sejong and Cheonan — are also evolving. "Proactive investment drove corporate growth, and that growth extended beyond the region to benefit the entire nation," he said. "It is a model case of a virtuous cycle."

President Lee Jae Myung poses for a photo with attendees at the public briefing on Chungcheong's advanced-industry development vision, held Wednesday in Asan, South Chungcheong Province. Front row, from left: Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, President Lee Jae Myung, Celltrion Chairman Seo Jung-jin, SK hynix CEO Kwak Noh-jung and Trade Minister Kim Jung-kwan. Back row, from left: Policy Chief Kim Yong-beom, Planning Minister Park Hong-keun, Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin, Samsung Display CEO Lee Cheong, South Chungcheong Governor Park Soo-hyun, Daejeon Mayor Heo Tae-jeong, Sejong Mayor Jo Sang-ho and North Chungcheong Governor Shin Yong-han. [Yonhap]

The briefing, attended by Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK hynix CEO Kwak Noh-jung and Celltrion Chairman Seo Jung-jin, unveiled a combined investment plan of 392 trillion won ($252 billion) for the Chungcheong region, centered on semiconductors, displays, secondary batteries and components, and biotech.

Lee Jae-yong announced an investment plan of about 140 trillion won, saying Chungcheong — at the heart of the Korean peninsula — "will achieve even greater growth as a global hub for IT materials and components." He added: "As the president noted, in this decisive moment when the foundations of the global economy are shaking, Samsung will pour its utmost efforts into making a great leap forward as an industry powerhouse with an unassailable lead."

Kang said he sensed that "today's decisions signal more than an expansion of production facilities into Chungcheong — they mark the beginning of a country with an unassailable industrial lead, driven outward to the world by its regions."

Kang said President Lee told him that, listening to Lee Jae-yong's announcement, he was reminded of the late Samsung founder Lee Byung-chul's 1983 declaration to enter the semiconductor industry. "Just as that foresight built South Korea into a semiconductor powerhouse, today's decisions will lead a new leap forward for Korea's advanced industries," Kang said.

He added that he hoped "today's bold moves will be recorded as the starting point of a grand voyage that builds an irreplaceable South Korea, just as the decision to break ground in that vineyard 30 years ago made Chungcheong what it is today," and vowed to "support that journey with every ounce of strength."

ygmoon@heraldcorp.com