'We will reshape manufacturing sites into intelligent industries'
South Sea coast aerospace industrial belt to be built in earnest
President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday that the Yeongnam region — long known as the cradle of South Korean industry — will be reborn as the birthplace of the country's next-generation advanced industries.
Speaking at a national briefing on the advanced industry development vision for the Yeongnam region, held at Gyeongsang National University's Chiram Campus in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, Lee said the large-scale investment drive that began in the southwestern region and continued through the Chungcheong provinces had now arrived in Yeongnam. "This national briefing will serve as the starting point for establishing Yeongnam as a firmly leading region in advanced industries with an unassailable edge," he said.
About 200 people attended the event, including city and provincial governors, business leaders, and representatives from universities and research institutions. Lee introduced Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo, Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho, Ulsan Mayor Kim Sang-uk, North Gyeongsang Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo and South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-su, urging them to work closely with the central government to make the country's regional-led transformation a reality.
Lee also expressed gratitude to the business community. "I extend my deepest thanks to the business leaders from Samsung, SK Group, Hyundai Motor, Hanwha, LG Group, Doosan and others who have presented large-scale investment visions that will change the future of Yeongnam," he said.
Lee said the manufacturing-heavy Yeongnam region holds strong potential to emerge as a global hub for advanced manufacturing. "Alongside massive investment in next-generation semiconductors and AI data centers, we will intensively develop physical AI — encompassing the country's largest robot industry innovation belt, the automotive sector and the world's top-ranked shipbuilding industry — to reshape manufacturing sites into intelligent industries," he said.
He added that bold investment would also flow into the aerospace and defense sector, where South Korea leads in domestic production, as well as into energy, batteries, displays and small modular reactors. "Through this, Yeongnam will stride forward — beyond being No. 1 in domestic manufacturing — toward becoming No. 1 in global manufacturing," he said.
Lee also stressed the need to develop the aerospace industry. "Yeongnam accounts for about one-third of the land south of the Korean Peninsula, but I am convinced that the economic territory it will open up will be as boundless as space," he said. "Our government intends to build in earnest a South Sea coast aerospace industrial belt connecting satellites, launch vehicles, next-generation aircraft and new space industries."
He pledged that the government would mobilize all its capabilities to help aerospace companies in the Yeongnam region grow into top-tier global players. "The government also promises to respond to the bold decisions of companies that have committed to large-scale investment by marshaling the full strength of the nation," he added.
Lee reaffirmed his commitment, saying the government and businesses would work together to build Yeongnam into a firm center of next-generation advanced industries and ensure the results translate into growth for the entire country. "I promise to run alongside all of you here until the very end, so that Yeongnam's challenge ultimately becomes South Korea's growth," he said.
moone@heraldcorp.com
