ASML Receiving Endless Love Calls, Expanding Presence in Korea (Comprehensive)

ASML Korea Branch Expands Workforce Including New Graduates and Experienced Staff
One-Third of ASML's Revenue Last Year Came from Korea...Busy Responding to Demand
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix Busy Securing Equipment
"EUV Equipment Essential for Leading-Edge Process Companies"

An ASML employee is inspecting the machine for equipment production. / Photo by ASML

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Pyeonghwa] There is a place where semiconductor companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix continuously seek partnerships. It is ASML, a Dutch company that exclusively supplies extreme ultraviolet (EUV) equipment essential for advanced semiconductor processes. As demand outpaces supply, even the government has rolled up its sleeves to ensure stable equipment supply. ASML is also expanding its workforce and investments to meet domestic demand.

ASML Accepts Experienced Applicants Alongside New Graduates... Samsung, SK, and Government Send 'Love Calls'

According to the semiconductor industry on the 16th, ASML Korea, which is conducting new graduate recruitment for the second half of the year, is accepting applications to hire engineers in customer and technical support fields. Following the event on the 15th of this month, a metaverse recruitment briefing session will be held on the 19th. A virtual reality (VR) recruitment information center is also operated on the homepage. Additionally, applications for experienced positions in various fields are being accepted simultaneously.

The active recruitment of talent by ASML in its Korean branch is due to business expansion in response to demand. Last year, Korea accounted for 34.46% (6.223 billion euros) of ASML's total sales (18.6 billion euros). Korean sales increased by 50% compared to the previous year, accounting for one-third of sales from a single country. ASML sold 42 EUV machines last year, revealing that Samsung Electronics was a major customer domestically alongside Taiwan's TSMC, the world's leading foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturer).

The EUV equipment exclusively supplied by ASML is used in the process of engraving circuit patterns on semiconductor wafers. Since semiconductor performance depends on how finely the circuits are drawn, EUV equipment is essential for ultra-fine processes. Moreover, as producing EUV equipment costs over 200 billion KRW and weighs up to 180 tons, it takes a considerable amount of time from order to delivery, making rapid supply impossible. Due to supply chain issues delaying parts procurement for equipment production, stable supply has become a top priority for customers.

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are expanding their connections with ASML under these circumstances. Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong of Samsung Electronics visited the Netherlands during his European business trip in June and visited ASML headquarters. He met with Peter Wennink, CEO of ASML, to request stable supply of EUV equipment. SK Hynix also included ASML as a possible work location in its Global Experience Program (GXP), which allows employees to work at overseas sites for five weeks, launched this month. Last year, SK Hynix signed a contract worth 4.755 trillion KRW with ASML to receive EUV equipment until 2025.

The Korean government is also focusing on expanding domestic connections with ASML. On the 6th, Jung Dae-jin, Deputy Minister for Trade of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, met with Joana Donabart, the Dutch Ambassador to Korea, to discuss ASML's investment in Dongtan and requested expansion of domestic investment. Earlier, ASML announced plans to invest 240 billion KRW by 2025 to establish an advanced semiconductor cluster in Hwaseong Dongtan. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy also improved supply times by allowing alternative inspections when ASML faced difficulties undergoing intermediate inspections under the High-Pressure Gas Safety Control Act when supplying EUV equipment domestically.

Partial view of ASML headquarters in the Netherlands / Source=ASML

ASML to Build Semiconductor Cluster in Dongtan for Maintenance and Workforce Training

This year, ASML will begin full-scale construction of a semiconductor cluster facility on a 16,000㎡ urban support facility site in Dongtan 2 City, Korea. The cluster will include remanufacturing and deep ultraviolet (DUV) and EUV equipment training centers. The facility will serve for equipment maintenance and parts localization, as well as training domestic talent related to EUV. At the headquarters level, ASML aims to expand EUV equipment supply. ASML plans to produce 55 state-of-the-art machines this year and more than 60 next year, increasing the quantity.

An industry insider said, "Although existing DUV equipment can be introduced in fine processes, EUV equipment performs better in terms of time, cost, and yield," adding, "Since securing EUV equipment is essential for leading-edge process companies, expanding supply can be helpful."

ASML Korea was established in 1996 and has four business sites in Korea: Hwaseong, Icheon, Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province, and Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province. These are locations of semiconductor factories for domestic customers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. The company employs over 1,800 people domestically.

ASML Korea states on its website, "The Korea office conducts various tasks related to the mass production of semiconductor chips and projects required by customers, based on customer support and customer sales duties for the latest equipment such as EUV/DUV."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.