'Japan Business Trip' Kim Dong-yeon: "Achieved First and Best Records with Albak Research Institute Investment Attraction"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon (left) is taking a commemorative photo after signing a memorandum of understanding for investment with Setsuo Iwashita, CEO of Ulvac, on the 17th (local time).

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Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, currently visiting Japan, has succeeded in attracting a semiconductor manufacturing equipment technology development research institute from ULVAC Group, the world's leading company in the semiconductor vacuum equipment sector.

On the 17th (local time), Governor Kim signed the "Gyeonggi Province-ULVAC Corporation Investment Memorandum of Understanding" with CEO Iwashita Setsuo at ULVAC Group's headquarters in Chigasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Governor Kim stated, "I want to emphasize the great significance of Gyeonggi Province gaining high completeness as a semiconductor hub with the addition of the ULVAC research institute. Gyeonggi Province is becoming a hub of advanced semiconductor technology, with research centers of the top four semiconductor equipment companies establishing their bases here. The establishment of a research institute by ULVAC is an investment in the future that cannot be measured in monetary terms. If there is anything needed, we will actively support it so that we can create more synergy as business partners."

CEO Iwashita Setsuo responded, "We appreciate Gyeonggi Province for its cooperation and administrative support so far. ULVAC plans to continue investing in research and development to grow further centered on semiconductors. We ask for your continued support and cooperation in the future."

Korea ULVAC, a subsidiary of ULVAC Group, will complete a research institute with a total floor area of 13,168㎡ in the Pyeongtaek Eoyeon and Hansan Foreign Investment Industrial Complex by March next year to strengthen semiconductor manufacturing equipment technology development research. Over the next five years, it will invest 133 billion KRW and newly employ about 150 people. The province plans to provide administrative support to ensure the successful implementation of ULVAC's investment project and strive to create a favorable business environment.

The province explained that ULVAC's investment in Gyeonggi Province is significant because it set records for both "first" and "largest."

First, this is the first time that local personnel at ULVAC's overseas branch are directly participating in technical research. ULVAC operates seven factories in the province and has confirmed the excellence of Korean engineers, deciding to involve Korean research personnel directly in this research institute. Additionally, the creation of about 150 jobs is the largest scale among overseas company research institutes attracted to the province in the past five years. The province expects that the establishment of the research institute will lead to the development of cutting-edge equipment and the promotion of domestic semiconductor equipment production, providing an opportunity for local partner companies to grow together.

ULVAC Group, established in 1952, is a company producing high-quality semiconductor equipment based on world-class vacuum technology. Korea ULVAC, established in 1995, has invested a total of 110 million USD in seven equipment manufacturing sites in Pyeongtaek and Paju, as well as equipment design (Bundang Technology Development Center) since 2000.

Meanwhile, on the morning of the 18th, Governor Kim Dong-yeon will sign an investment attraction business agreement with TOK, the world's number one company in semiconductor core material photoresist, located in Tokyo, Japan. In the afternoon, he will attend the opening ceremony of the 24th World Representatives Convention of the World Korean Trade Association (OKTA) and deliver a keynote speech. He will also sign three business agreements with OKTA, including an export support partnership.

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