Business & Economics
Seoul Fast-Tracks Second Chip Cluster as Samsung Preps ₩1,000 trn Decade Spend
On 24-26 June 2026 South Korea confirmed talks with Samsung and SK Hynix to locate a new semiconductor ‘mega-cluster’ and, days later, leaks showed Samsung will announce a ₩1,000 trillion ($648 bn) 10-year plan that drags fab capacity scheduled for the 2040s forward to 2034-35.
Focusing Facts
- Kim Yong-beom told a 24 Jun panel that AI-driven demand forces both firms to advance construction timelines by “more than 10 years,” requiring new sites ready by 2034-2035.
- Maeil Business Newspaper reported on 26 Jun that Samsung’s plan allocates about ₩300 trn for southwest chip fabs and >₩350 trn for AI data-centres, to be unveiled at a 29 Jun presidential meeting.
- SK Hynix briefly became Korea’s most valuable firm on 23 Jun, reaching a ₩1.35 quadrillion market cap, underscoring investor faith in memory demand.
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