{"id":2201122,"date":"2023-05-24T08:00:02","date_gmt":"2023-05-23T23:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2201122"},"modified":"2023-11-20T16:03:05","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T07:03:05","slug":"dutch-chipmaker-asm-announces-100-million-investment-in-south-korean-expansion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/05\/dutch-chipmaker-asm-announces-100-million-investment-in-south-korean-expansion\/","title":{"rendered":"Dutch Chipmaker ASM announces $100 million investment in South Korean expansion"},"content":{"rendered":"
In a <\/span>press statement<\/span><\/a> released Tuesday, Dutch chipmaker ASM outlined its intention to invest $100 million to expand its innovation and manufacturing center in Hwaseong, South Korea, about 28 miles (45 kilometers) from Seoul. This investment aims to respond to the projected increase in demand for semiconductors. Expected to be fully operational by 2025, this strategic expansion will enhance ASM\u2019s capacity for research and product development and significantly boost its manufacturing capabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n Currently, ASM employs over 450 staff at the Hwaseong facility. As a part of this expansion, ASM anticipates an increase in its workforce. The existing building, which spans about five acres (20,000 square meters), will be extended by an additional 7.6 acres (31,000 square meters) distributed across eight floors. This expansion is slated to more than double the facility\u2019s area allocated for research and development while the manufacturing space will nearly triple.<\/span><\/p>\n Dear readers,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n At KOREA PRO, we are committed to providing engaging and informative content tailored to our discerning audience. Recognizing the significance of your perspectives in enriching our offerings, we cordially extend an invitation for your participation in a brief <\/span><\/i>5-minute survey<\/span><\/i><\/a>. This opportunity allows us to capture your invaluable feedback and insights, which we greatly appreciate and consider integral to our ongoing commitment to service excellence.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Why It Matters<\/b><\/p>\n ASM\u2019s plan to invest $100 million in South Korea is further reinforced by Germany\u2019s Merck Group\u2019s earlier <\/span>decision<\/span><\/a> in 2021 to invest approximately $693 million into South Korea\u2019s electronics sector over four years. Both investments accentuate the ROK\u2019s <\/span>plans<\/span><\/a> to emerge as a global hub for semiconductor manufacturing and innovation, attracting foreign investments that stimulate economic growth and jumpstart job creation in engineering, research and development and manufacturing.<\/span><\/p>\n The significance of these developments is further amplified amid the backdrop of geopolitical frictions, particularly the U.S. attempts to <\/span>restrict<\/span><\/a> China\u2019s access to advanced chip manufacturing technology. As China faces potential constraints, alternative tech hotspots like South Korea will likely benefit. Investments from companies such as ASM and Merck Group and domestic chipmakers such as SK Hynix and Samsung fortify South Korea\u2019s capability to meet worldwide semiconductor demand. In sum, these investments mark a strategic shift in the global electronics sector, with South Korea poised to play an increasingly central role.<\/span><\/p>\n