Samsung Electronics CTO calls for proactive government support ahead of major chip investments

Song Jae-hyeok, chief technology officer of Samsung Electronics' Device Solutions (DS) division, called on the government Wednesday at the Semiconductor Day ceremony to proactively build infrastructure and streamline permits to enable timely investment. The appeal comes as Samsung Electronics prepares to invest in the Yongin national industrial complex and the Honam semiconductor cluster, signaling a push for policy support.

Song, who delivered the welcome address at the event held Wednesday afternoon at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in Gangnam-gu, said timely investment is critical for the semiconductor industry. "I ask government officials to proactively build infrastructure and boldly support permitting so that bold and swift investment can be made," he said. Song spoke in his capacity as chairman of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association.

Park Dong-il, vice minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, responded in his congratulatory remarks that the government would do so.

Samsung Electronics has announced plans to build six semiconductor fabrication plants at the Yongin national industrial complex at a cost of 360 trillion won ($271 billion). The project gained momentum following a mega-project announcement in June, and the schedule for supplying power and water infrastructure is expected to be moved up to allow groundbreaking on the first fab next year.

Samsung Electronics also announced plans to build a semiconductor cluster in the Honam region at a cost of around 400 trillion won, with two fabs to be constructed on the site of the Gwangju military airport — underscoring the company's call on the government to move quickly.

"Over the past several years, the semiconductor industry has undergone more change than ever before, including supply chain restructuring and intensifying global competition," Song said. "Those in the industry never stopped developing technology and investing, and achieved record-high exports even under difficult conditions."

He added that the importance of high-performance, high-bandwidth advanced semiconductors is growing as the AI era takes hold. "Demand for AI semiconductors is robust, and South Korea is seeing new opportunities expand through semiconductors," he said.

Song said semiconductors have established themselves as a strategic industry directly tied to the national economy and security, going beyond being simply an export sector. "Major countries around the world are nurturing semiconductors as a national strategic industry," he said. "Ultimately, what determines competitiveness is the underlying technology."

He pledged to press ahead with preemptive investment to strengthen technological competitiveness. "We will consistently continue investing in advanced technology and nurturing talented people," Song said. "We will do our utmost to maximize supply chain competitiveness, build a healthy industrial ecosystem, and enable South Korea to lead the global semiconductor industry."