South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has issued an urgent call to government officials, demanding an all-out acceleration of large-scale semiconductor projects and positioning the race for first-mover advantage as a core national competitive strategy.
Speaking at a government meeting on Monday, Lee stated that in the current situation, the outcome will depend on who acts faster and who establishes a lead first. "In this situation, the result seems to be determined by who moves faster and who seizes the initiative first," he said. "Speed is the only thing that matters."
These remarks send a clear policy signal, which is expected to drive further acceleration in South Korea's semiconductor investment approvals, land planning, and allocation of supporting resources. This will directly impact the project timelines for domestic chip giants like Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and SK Hynix Inc. Investors will closely monitor the subsequent implementation of specific policies.
Speed Takes Precedence: Lee Sets the Tone for the Chip Race
At the government meeting, Lee explicitly placed execution efficiency at the forefront, emphasizing that in the current global semiconductor competitive landscape, slow policy advancement equates to strategic failure. His remarks were concise and firm, directly stating that "speed is the only thing that matters," thereby setting the pace for the work of relevant government departments.
This adjustment in South Korea's policy direction occurs against the backdrop of major global economies competing to expand their domestic semiconductor production capacity.
Last week, the South Korean government announced its largest-ever investment plan for the semiconductor and artificial intelligence industries, positioning semiconductors, physical AI, and AI data centers as the "three pillars" for the country's industrial upgrade. It emphasized that the synergistic operation of these three is essential to propel South Korea into the ranks of "leading nations in the AI revolution." South Korea also plans to invest over 1,000 trillion won in AI data centers by 2035 and will invest 81 trillion won in the Chungcheong region to build chip packaging plants.
For South Korea, the semiconductor industry is a core pillar for export earnings and technological competitiveness. Lee's high-profile remarks underscore the heightened sense of urgency in Seoul to maintain a leading position in this global race.
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