Kyung Gye-hyun Awarded 'Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit' on Semiconductor Day... "We Will Regain World No.1"

President Kyung Gye-hyun, Recipient of the 16th Semiconductor Day Award
"Collaboration Will Make Us the Future Leaders"

"We will prepare thoroughly and invest well to reclaim the world's number one position in semiconductors within the next two years, or at the latest, within three years."

Kyung Kye-hyun, President of Samsung Electronics' DS Division, said this on the 26th at the '16th Semiconductor Day' held at The-K Hotel in Seoul. He proposed a toast with the phrase, "The future of Korea is us!" saying, "Although these are difficult times, I believe that if we cooperate and move forward together, we can become the protagonists of a better future."

President Kyung attended the 16th Semiconductor Day ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association. Semiconductor Day is an annual event held since 2008 to commemorate October 29, 1994, when semiconductor exports reached 10 billion dollars. The ceremony is held every year on the fourth Thursday of October.

Kyung Kye-hyun, head of Samsung Electronics DS Division (far right), is receiving the Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit at the 16th Semiconductor Day ceremony on the 26th. / Photo by Samsung Electronics

At the ceremony, awards are given each year to those who have contributed to semiconductor technology development and localization. This year, President Kyung received the Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit, while Jung Ji-wan, Chairman of Soulbrain Holdings, and Lee Byung-ki, Vice President of SK Hynix, were awarded the Silver and Bronze Tower Orders of Industrial Service Merit, respectively. Including the Industrial Service Medal and the Order of Merit for National Foundation, a total of 82 individuals were honored.

At the banquet following the award ceremony, President Kyung spoke on behalf of the awardees. While expressing humility about receiving the award, he declared his ambition to use the honor as a symbol of overcoming difficult business conditions and regaining pride.

Others attending the event also unanimously emphasized that the industry must cooperate to strengthen the competitiveness of the domestic semiconductor industry. Kwak No-jung, President of SK Hynix and Chairman of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association, said, "This has been a more intense and challenging year than ever before," adding, "Despite very difficult circumstances, the semiconductor industry cooperated organically to focus on technological innovation and felt the possibilities."

The 16th Semiconductor Day Commemoration Ceremony held at The-K Hotel Seoul event hall /
Photo by Kim Pyeonghwa

He also stated, "Korean semiconductors are at the gateway to a new world amid greater changes," emphasizing, "The 30-year global semiconductor division of labor system is being dismantled, and national competition is intensifying, so a new strategy different from before is needed." He added, "Although we face another transition and change, if we cooperate and build competitiveness, Korean semiconductors will become stronger."

The government also pledged support. Lee Seung-ryeol, Director of Industrial Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, expressed gratitude to the attendees who contributed to the recent improvement in semiconductor export performance during his congratulatory remarks. He conveyed the government's determination to secure a super-gap capability in the semiconductor industry and enhance fabless (semiconductor design) competitiveness, aiming to achieve the national agenda of becoming a 'semiconductor superpower.'

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