14 Korean firms knock on Kyushu's supply chain door at Fukuoka matchmaking event

South Korean semiconductor materials, parts and equipment companies are making a push to enter the Kyushu semiconductor supply chain. At a matchmaking event in the Japanese region, where global chipmakers including TSMC have been ramping up investment, the Korean firms will meet roughly 50 Japanese trading houses, equipment makers and component suppliers to explore new business deals and joint R&D opportunities.

KOTRA said it is hosting the Korea-Japan Semiconductor Matching Day in Fukuoka, Japan, over three days beginning Wednesday. The business-to-business consultation event runs alongside the 3rd Kyushu Semiconductor Industry Exhibition, held concurrently at Marine Messe Fukuoka.

Fourteen small and midsize Korean materials, parts and equipment companies and startups are taking part. On the Japanese side, about 50 firms — including general trading companies, component suppliers and semiconductor specialists — are joining the consultations.

The Korean participants were selected through a screening process conducted by Seoul National University's System Semiconductor Industry Promotion Center, the Korea Nano Fusion Industry Association and KOTRA, which evaluated each company's technological capabilities and market potential.

The event's focus goes beyond simple product sales to forging new connections between Korean companies and the Japanese semiconductor supply chain. Firms from both countries will discuss not only component and equipment supply but also the potential for joint R&D and proof-of-concept cooperation.

The semiconductor industries of South Korea and Japan are already closely intertwined in their supply chains. Last year, South Korea imported $8.34 billion worth of semiconductors from Japan and $6.34 billion worth of semiconductor manufacturing equipment — together accounting for roughly one-third of South Korea's total imports from Japan.

KOTRA noted that the two industries are highly complementary: Japan holds a competitive edge in semiconductor materials and manufacturing equipment, while South Korea excels in chip manufacturing, particularly memory chips.

Kyushu, where the event is being held, is a key hub of Japan's semiconductor industry. The region forms a broad cluster linking semiconductor design in Fukuoka, manufacturing in Kumamoto and back-end processing in Kitakyushu, with more than 1,000 semiconductor-related companies concentrated there.

Investment in the region has been picking up again. TSMC's Japanese subsidiary JASM brought its first Kumamoto factory into full operation in late 2024, and local companies including Sony, Rohm and wafer maker Sumco have continued to expand their investments.

As Japanese companies accelerate efforts to secure stable supply chains, new entry opportunities are opening up for Korean firms, driven by growing demand for component and equipment suppliers beyond existing partners.

Japanese participants include Kanematsu, a trading company specializing in electronics and devices; Moriroku, which handles supply chains for automotive and power semiconductors; and Kanaden, a trading house affiliated with Mitsubishi Electric. Factory automation parts maker Suzuki Shokai, measurement equipment company Keyence and semiconductor packaging firm Amkor Technology Japan are also set to meet with Korean companies.

On the second day, a Korea-Japan Semiconductor Industry Cooperation Seminar will also be held. Representatives from companies and research institutions in both countries are expected to share trends in semiconductor technology and industry and discuss prospects for supply chain and R&D cooperation.

"As Japan's semiconductor cluster pursues a revival, cooperation opportunities between Korean and Japanese companies — both manufacturing powerhouses in Northeast Asia — are growing," KOTRA President Kang Kyung-sung said. "We will support Korean semiconductor materials, parts and equipment companies in breaking into the Japanese supply chain through this event, and help strengthen the semiconductor competitiveness of firms in both countries."