ASML to Begin Construction Next Month at Hwaseong Semiconductor Cluster... Considering Follow-up Investments

ASML Invests 240 Billion KRW in Korea... Discussing Follow-up Investments
ASM Also Decides on 100 Billion KRW Investment... World's No.1 ALD Company

Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong Inspecting Semiconductor Equipment
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Lee Jae-yong, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics (second from left), is inspecting semiconductor equipment on June 14 (local time) at the ASML headquarters in Eindhoven, Netherlands, along with Peter Wennink, ASML CEO, and Martin van den Brink, ASML CTO. 2022.6.15 [Provided by Samsung Electronics. Redistribution and DB reproduction prohibited]
Photo by Yonhap News
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[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Lee Jun-hyung] The semiconductor cluster that Dutch semiconductor equipment company ASML plans to build in Korea will break ground next month. The already scheduled investment amounts to 240 billion KRW, and ASML is also considering additional investments. Another Dutch semiconductor equipment company, ASM, has also decided to make a large-scale investment in Korea.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 14th that ASML will start construction of the semiconductor cluster in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province next month. Earlier, Moon Dong-min, Director of Trade and Investment at the Ministry, recently visited ASML's headquarters in the Netherlands. Director Moon reviewed the Hwaseong semiconductor cluster development plan with ASML and held detailed discussions on follow-up investments.

ASML is the world's number one company in the semiconductor lithography equipment sector. It exclusively produces extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment necessary for cutting-edge semiconductor microfabrication processes, earning it the nickname 'super subcontractor' in the semiconductor industry. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has been conducting investment attraction activities targeting ASML since early 2020 and signed an investment agreement last May.

ASML will invest 240 billion KRW from this year through 2024 to establish the Hwaseong semiconductor cluster. The semiconductor cluster will cover an area of 16,000 square meters and will house ASML's semiconductor equipment manufacturing center as well as EUV and deep ultraviolet (DUV) training centers.

List of German and Dutch companies discussed for investment attraction by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. [Photo by Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy]

The Ministry also secured new investments from ASM. ASM is one of the world's top 10 semiconductor front-end equipment companies. It produces equipment that deposits oxide films at atomic-scale depths on semiconductor wafers and supplies them to Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and others. ASM plans to invest 10 million USD (approximately 14.3 billion KRW) to establish a semiconductor equipment manufacturing plant or research and development (R&D) center in Korea.

German optical component manufacturer Carl Zeiss is also considering a large-scale investment in Korea. Carl Zeiss exclusively supplies reflective mirrors for EUV lithography equipment to ASML. A Ministry official explained, "Carl Zeiss is considering an investment of a scale similar to ASM's," adding, "This has created an opportunity for Korea to establish a stable semiconductor supply chain."

2022 Q3 Foreign Direct Investment Trends Briefing
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Moon Dong-min, Director of the Trade and Investment Office at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, is briefing on the '2022 Q3 Foreign Direct Investment Trends' on the 5th of this month at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy press room in the Government Sejong Complex. 2022.10.5 [Provided by Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Redistribution and DB reproduction prohibited]
photo@yna.co.kr
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The Ministry also held investment-related discussions with German core shipbuilding equipment company KSB. KSB is a manufacturer of industrial pumps and valves and is considering building an ultra-low temperature valve production facility or expanding its existing R&D center in Korea. If KSB increases its investment in Korea, it could help stabilize the supply chain of key components used in liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and liquefied hydrogen plants.

Meanwhile, Director Moon held talks with senior officials from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss supply chain cooperation measures. He also requested support for Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo. Director Moon said, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration has selected the 2030 Busan World Expo as a national agenda and is making all-out efforts across the government," adding, "Korea's experience as one of the world's top 10 economies will generate broad consensus encompassing both developed and developing countries."

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