President Lee Jae Myung met Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong on Thursday at Cheong Wa Dae to discuss regional semiconductor investments, including a possible chip cluster in the southwestern Honam region.
The meeting lasted more than an hour. The two sides exchanged views on large-scale investment projects by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix that are expected to be unveiled soon. The talks form part of preparations for the government's conference on balanced regional development, scheduled for next Monday.
Presidential policy chief Kim Yong-beom noted growing constraints on land, electricity and water in the greater Seoul area, suggesting an additional semiconductor cluster outside the capital region. A cluster is already under construction in Yongin, south of Seoul.
Lee Jae-yong visited Samsung's HBM facilities earlier this week and stressed efforts to lead in the AI semiconductor market. The company's HBM4 sales have surpassed US$1 billion four months after mass production began in February.
