[U.S. Allegedly Requests South Korean Companies to Invest in Local Memory Chip Factories and Ensure Supply] Odaily Planet Daily News: Against the backdrop of increased pressure from the U.S. government on South Korean investments, the U.S. recently proposed to the South Korean government and enterprises the construction of memory semiconductor production facilities in the U.S. and ensuring stable memory chip supply. Regarding South Korea's plan to advance the approximately 800 trillion won-scale semiconductor cluster project in the Honam region, the U.S. has also informally expressed dissatisfaction, believing that South Korea is actively supporting domestic semiconductor investments while showing a relatively passive attitude toward U.S. investments. This marks the first time the U.S. has mentioned the South Korean government-led "super project" while pressuring for investments. Discussions related to this were also brought up during South Korea's Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy, Lee Chang-yang's recent visit to the U.S. for investment negotiations. The South Korean government considers the U.S. semiconductor investment request to be independent of the previously agreed $350 billion U.S. investment arrangement between the two countries and plans to announce the first U.S. investment project in September. Domestic semiconductor companies are concerned that formally accepting the U.S. factory construction request while advancing the Honam cluster project may create a dual burden. Additionally, it is reported that South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin had a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that evening to exchange views on U.S. investments and bilateral relations.