Politics · South Korea · 1 hr ago
South Korean lawmakers clash over witnesses for Honam semiconductor project
South Korea’s National Assembly held an audit of the labor ministry on October 13.
Lawmakers from the opposition People Power Party demanded that Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won testify about the Honam semiconductor mega project.
They said the government may have pressured companies to take part.
The ruling Democratic Party rejected the demand, calling it an attempt to turn the audit into a political fight.
The project concerns Honam, a region in southwestern South Korea, and one ruling-party lawmaker said the region should be allowed to develop and support its people.
Lawmakers from both parties did agree that company representatives should testify about workplace deaths and safety, including at Hanwha Ocean.
The dispute over whether the Samsung and SK leaders will be called was not resolved in the account of the hearing.
Lawmakers from South Korea’s ruling and opposition parties clashed over whether to summon business leaders as witnesses in a labor ministry audit.
The opposition People Power Party called for Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won to testify about alleged government pressure on companies over the Honam semiconductor project.
The ruling Democratic Party said the witness demand was an attempt to turn the audit into a political fight.
Lawmakers from both parties supported summoning company representatives over workplace deaths and labor safety issues.
- Who
- South Korean lawmakers from the People Power Party and the Democratic Party.
- What
- They clashed over whether to summon business leaders as witnesses in an audit concerning the Honam semiconductor project.
- When
- October 13, 2026.
- Where
- The National Assembly in Seoul, during a labor ministry audit.
- Why
- The opposition said it wanted to investigate alleged government pressure on companies; the ruling party called the demand political.
People Power Party
Democratic Party
Purpose of witness summons
People Power Party
The party said summoning Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won would help investigate alleged government pressure on companies.
Democratic Party
The party said the demand was an attempt to use the audit as a political tool.
The project
People Power Party
Na Kyung-won said many people believed the project began for the Democratic Party’s convention and that the president pressured business leaders.
Democratic Party
Shin Jeong-hoon rejected the allegation of pressure by a Democratic Party government and said the Honam region should be allowed to prosper.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Requested witnesses
- Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Electronics chairman; Chey Tae-won, SK Group chairman
- Project
- Honam semiconductor mega project
- Audit committee
- National Assembly’s Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee
- Labor safety witnesses
- Lawmakers discussed summoning representatives from major companies, including Hanwha Ocean
What people are saying
Many people think the Honam mega project began for the Democratic Party’s convention and that the president summoned business leaders and twisted their arms.
Let Honam have a chance to make a living, too.
A responsible person from the Hanwha Group must come to the National Assembly and explain to the public how they will improve this issue going forward.
Sources
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