Yoon: "Semiconductors, Core of Korea-Netherlands Cooperation... Top Priority"

Written Interview with AFP... "Semiconductor Alliance Will Be an Important Turning Point"

President Yoon Suk-yeol, ahead of his state visit to the Netherlands from the 11th to the 15th, stated, "Semiconductors are the core of Korea-Netherlands cooperation," and added, "Korea plans to significantly strengthen semiconductor cooperation with key countries such as the Netherlands, the United States, and Japan going forward."

In a written interview with AFP released on the 10th, President Yoon mentioned, "This state visit will be an important turning point for the 'Korea-Netherlands Semiconductor Alliance.'"

In particular, President Yoon emphasized that "discussions on semiconductor cooperation are the top priority." Through this visit, he plans to establish a 'semiconductor alliance' with the Netherlands and, based on this, promote the deepening of a strategic partnership between the two countries. During the summit and working lunch with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, they will also discuss the establishment of a semiconductor dialogue forum, signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU), and consultations on discovering joint projects.

President Yoon envisions maximizing the complementarity of the semiconductor value chain by combining the capabilities of ASML, the world's only extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment manufacturer, with semiconductor manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. He will inspect the production site of the latest lithography equipment to be launched next year with Peter Wennink, CEO of ASML, and discuss cooperation plans in professional workforce training and next-generation technology research and development with major semiconductor companies including ASML. ASML holds the number one global market share in lithography equipment and monopolizes the global supply of lithography equipment essential for ultra-fine semiconductor processes, making this a significant opportunity for Korea to greatly expand its semiconductor supply chain.

President Yoon will be the first foreign head of state to visit ASML’s cleanroom. King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won will also attend. A cleanroom is a specialized room designed to maintain minimal dust and particulate matter in the indoor air and to control indoor pressure, humidity, temperature, and airflow distribution and speed within certain ranges. IT-related products such as semiconductors and displays are all manufactured in cleanrooms. Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, expressed, "By visiting the Dutch innovation site, the President will provide our government with hints and insights related to the semiconductor cluster being developed in Hwaseong as part of our strategy to achieve semiconductor superpower status."

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