청주 떠나는 대기업‥ 지역 경제 '먹구름'

◀ Anchor ▶ Large companies based in the region are leaving Cheongju one after another. They are suspending production lines, relocating elsewhere, or pursuing sales. Concerns are growing that the local economy will further contract during these already difficult times. Reporter Kim Young-il reports. ◀ Report ▶ Lotte-Nestlé Korea's Cheongju plant, which established its base in the Cheongju Industrial Complex in 1981, has been in operation for over 40 years, will close in March of next year. Nestlé and Lotte Welfood have decided to end their joint venture and close the Cheongju plant in the first quarter of next year. Around 300 workers will immediately lose their jobs. ◀ INT ▶ Jeong Nak-chae/Lotte Nestlé Korea Branch Manager "If I quit my job right now, what will I do? How will I survive? That's difficult right now. It's not like I can get a job again. And in that situation, I have young children..." The nearby Lotte Welfood Cheongju plant will also close this month. Lotte Welfood has decided to relocate the meat processing facilities at the Cheongju plant to the Gimcheon plant and suspend operations at the Cheongju plant starting on the 31st of this month. [CG] They explained that this was a strategic decision to strengthen corporate competitiveness by maximizing production efficiency and reducing costs. Amidst this, corporate sales are also on the rise. LG Chem is pushing to sell its Cheongju Water Solution division, which was in the spotlight as a new business, to a private equity fund. Following the sale of the Cheongju Film Division to a Chinese company two years ago, another sale is underway, prompting over 600 LG Chem employees to fight for their right to survive. ◀ INT ▶ Lee Wan-hee/Senior Vice President, LG Chem LG Energy Solution Cheongju Branch "When the private equity fund sold us, the workers here were most concerned about restructuring and the prospect of losing their jobs if they were transferred to an external company." The sale of Samsung SDI's Cheongju plant to a Chinese company will also be completed by the end of next month. As the number of companies leaving Cheongju increases, and related local partner companies are also expected to inevitably suffer a series of setbacks. ◀ INT ▶ Jeon Jong-hwan/Economic Research Team Leader, Cheongju Chamber of Commerce and Industry "This could lead to a job crisis for workers, a decline in local tax revenue, and difficulties for partner companies, potentially collapsing the industrial ecosystem." Cheongju City has decided to strengthen support through on-site corporate surveys to prevent further chain reactions of corporate departures. We also plan to support the reemployment of retirees who suddenly lose their jobs and request that companies retain their employees. ◀ INT ▶ Lee Gyeong-eun/Cheongju City Business Support Division Manager "We plan to actively request that companies leaving their factories retain employees and avoid sudden layoffs." As more and more companies close their doors and leave, dark clouds are gathering over the Cheongju region's economy. This is Kim Young-il from MBC News.