Story · scmp + websearch + yna · 31 events
GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL made statement in Gyeonggi, Kyonggi-do, South Korea
Anabelle Colaco01 Jul 2026, 10:04 GMT+10
SEOUL, South Korea: South Korea's two biggest chipmakers, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, will invest a combined 800 trillion won (US$518 billion) to build a massive semiconductor manufacturing hub in the country's southwest as they expand production to meet soaring global demand driven by artificial intelligence.
The investment plan, announced on June 29, was unveiled by President Lee Jae Myung alongside the chairmen of both companies. The project supports the government's push to spread industrial investment beyond the greater Seoul metropolitan area, which currently dominates South Korea's semiconductor industry.
Samsung and SK Hynix, which together produce about two-thirds of the world's memory chips, said each company will build two fabrication plants in the southwest, adding to their existing manufacturing complexes in Gyeonggi Province.
Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong said the company's new facilities will be built in the southwestern city of Gwangju, where several potential sites have been proposed, including the grounds of a military air base scheduled for relocation.
Neither company provided a timeline for completing the new f…
Samsung, SK Hynix to Spend $520 Billion on Chip Plants in South Korea
Samsung, SK Hynix to Spend $520 Billion on Chip Plants in South Korea
SEOUL:Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix plan to invest more than $500 billion in a new chip-making hub in southwestern South Korea, collaborating with the government’s push to bring the artificial-intelligence boom to less-developed regions.
The initiative, announced by the South Korean government Monday, envisions the creation of four new memory chip-making plants in the southwest, diversifying from the two companies’ current production centers which are all in the Seoul region.
“We must secure absolute competitiveness in advanced technologies including semiconductors and AI, and make sure the fruits of this growth are distributed evenly nationwide and felt by all citizens,” said President Lee Jae Myung in a televised address.
SK and Samsung said they would each invest about 400 trillion won, or roughly $260 billion, in the new hub. Samsung said the southwestern city of Gwangju was a likely site for its new factories. Another 81 trillion won, or roughly $53 billion, will be spent on chip-packaging facilities in the central region.
Global demand for memory chipsis surging because they are a critical part of A…
South Korea to invest $576 billion in AI chip production with Samsung ...
South Korea to invest $576 billion in AI chip production with Samsung ...
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won announcing the government's AI investment plan in Seoul, South Korea on June 29, 2026.
Kim Min-Hee/Reuters
Asia
South Korea
AI
Tech giants
See all topics
Facebook
Tweet
Email
Link
Threads
Link Copied!
Follow
Reuters
—
South Korea rolled out sweeping chip and AI mega-projects on Monday, as President Lee Jae Myung pledged to cement overwhelming industry leadership with investments worth more than $576 billion over several years.
The announcement marks Lee’s boldest push yet to align South Korea’s AI and chip ambitions with his pledge to narrow regional disparities and revive economies beyond the Seoul metropolitan area.
Lee was joined by the leaders of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, the world’s two largest memory chipmakers, for the televised announcement.
“We must secure the core elements of AI faster than any other country,” the president said. “Semiconductors, physical AI, and AI data centres are the triple axis for our great leap forward.”
Samsung and SK Hynix will invest 800 trillion wo…
South Korea to spend $1T on more memory chip production and humanoid ...
South Korea to spend $1T on more memory chip production and humanoid ...
Text
settings
Story text
Size
Small
Standard
Large
Width
*
Standard
Wide
Links
Standard
Orange
* Subscribers only
Learn more
Minimize to nav
South Korea’s government and top tech companies are committing $1 trillion to several flagship megaprojects that could bolster global memory chip supply, build new AI data centers and spur commercial deployment of humanoid robots by 2028.
The announcement comes as South Korean companies such as Samsung and SK Hynix have enjoyed
record profits
and
stock valuations
due to the AI industry’s demand for memory chips—with the subsequent supply strain leading to
memory chip shortages
and higher prices for consumer electronics. Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Company is racing to mass manufacture humanoid robots developed by its subsidiary, Boston Dynamics, so that the robotic workers can start taking over certain laborious tasks in automotive factories and other workplaces.
“We must secure the core elements of AI faster than any other country,” said South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in a televised speech on June 29, as reported by
BBC News
and other media outlets. “Semicond…
Samsung, SK Hynix: South Korean announces AI, semiconductor mega-projects
Samsung, SK Hynix: South Korean announces AI, semiconductor mega-projects
In this article
Shares ofSamsung ElectronicsandSK Hynixdeclined on Monday after South Korea unveiled sweeping artificial intelligence and semiconductor mega-projects expected to attract hundreds of billions of dollars in investment over the coming years.
Samsung Electronics' stock was down 4.8%, while SK Hynix erased early losses of a near 6% decline to fall 1.6%.
President Lee Jae Myung announced plans to strengthen South Korea's semiconductor leadership and expand its artificial intelligence infrastructure through large-scale investments and new manufacturing capacity, saying the country must move faster than rivals to secure the technologies underpinning the AI era.
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix will each build two new semiconductor fabrication plants in South Korea's southwest as part of an 800 trillion won ($518 billion) national semiconductor ecosystem project, the government said.
"We will rapidly expand our production capacity by drastically shortening the timeline from licensing to construction," said Jung-Kwan Kim, South Korea's minister of trade, industry and resources.
The announcement …
South Korea unveils $1.2 trillion investment plan for AI data centres ...
South Korea unveils $1.2 trillion investment plan for AI data centres ...
South Korea will invest nearly $1.2 trillion in AI data centres and semiconductor manufacturing, with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix leading a massive chip production expansion.
The project includes four new semiconductor fabrication plants and a long-term plan to build advanced AI data centres, boosting the country's AI and chip infrastructure.
While the investment aims to transform South Korea into a stronger AI and semiconductor powerhouse, experts warn that relocating production outside the Seoul region could face challenges such as labour shortages, supply chain development and infrastructure costs.
South Korea has announced plans to invest nearly 1.6 quadrillion won ($1.2 trillion) inartificial intelligence infrastructureand semiconductor manufacturing, marking one of the biggest industrial investment drives in the country's history.
The ambitious public-private initiative is aimed at strengthening South Korea's position as a global technology powerhouse asdemand for AI chipsand data centres continues to surge worldwide.
Speaking at the launch of the initiative in Seoul, President Lee Jae Myung …
President 李 시 지 In order to invest in large AI projects,
President 李 시 지 In order to invest in large AI projects,
South Korea to Unleash Tech Investment with AI Deregulation – A Breaking News Update
Seoul, South Korea – In a move that could reshape the global
technology
landscape, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has announced his administration is seriously considering easing financial regulations to unlock massive investment in the artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor sectors. This
breaking
news
comes following a pivotal meeting with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and signals a bold new strategy for South Korea to become a leading force in the next wave of technological innovation. This is a story that’s already sending ripples through the industry, and we’re bringing you the latest developments as they unfold.
Deregulation on the Horizon: A Shift in Policy
The potential deregulation centers around the “separation of Geumsan,” a regulation preventing industrial conglomerates like Samsung and SK from holding significant stakes in financial institutions. President Lee indicated a willingness to revisit this rule, stating that adjustments would be made “within the scope of the safety system that is not monopoly.” This isn’t about…
Samsung Introduces Low-Interest Home Loans For Semiconductor Employees ...
Samsung Introduces Low-Interest Home Loans For Semiconductor Employees ...
262
According to an article published in The Korean Herald on Tuesday, Samsung Electronics recently implemented compensation program for semiconductor workers is fueling anticipation that more liquidity could further
drive-up
apartment prices throughout South Korea’s semiconductor belt.
According to the source, on May 20, Samsung Electronics and its labor union came to an agreement to introduce a low-interest housing loan scheme for workers in addition to a new performance bonus system based on semiconductor earnings.
You Might Be Interested In
Renault Launches Updated Kwid: Check New Prices, Features, Variants And Rs 15,000 Discount
‘Darwinian Moment’ For Employees? Palo Alto CEO Nikesh Arora Says 90% Of Workers Are Not AI-Ready
WhatsApp First, Now Telegram And Signal Face Centre’s Username Scrutiny
The report said, under the housing support scheme, employees who do not own homes can borrow up to 500 million won (USD 370,000) for purchasing homes and up to 300 million won (USD 199,185) for
jeonse
deposits at a fixed annual interest rate of 1.5 per cent, repayable over a 10-year period.
Jeonse
is South Kore…
S. Korea to build semiconductor cluster in southwest with 800 tln ...
S. Korea to build semiconductor cluster in southwest with 800 tln ...
South Korea plans to develop a new semiconductor production base in the country's southwestern region through 800 trillion won (US$517.9 billion) in corporate investments that will create four memory chip fabrication plants, Industry Minister
Kim Jung
-kwan said Monday.
Kim unveiled the investment plan to transform the Gwangju and Jeolla regions into the nation's second major semiconductor cluster, alongside the existing hub in the Seoul metropolitan area, during a national investment briefing chaired by President Lee Jae Myung at Cheong Wa Dae.
"Relying on a single production base in the Seoul metropolitan area is no longer sufficient to meet surging semiconductor demand," Kim said, noting that constraints on power and water resources limit further expansion under existing plans.
The semiconductor investment is part of the government's "three mega projects" initiative, which calls for large-scale investments by chip giants Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc., as well as other companies, in semiconductors, physical artificial intelligence (AI) and AI data centers.
Kim said the Chungcheong region will be de…
South Korea Unveils National AI Model to Compete with US, China
South Korea Unveils National AI Model to Compete with US, China
CIOTech Outlook Team| Friday, 08 August 2025, 16:29 PM IST
In a major step to assert its technology autonomy and dominance as an international player, South Korea has initiated a national project to develop a native AI foundation model, which establishes it as a serious player in theglobal AI competition, currently led by the U.S. and China. The project has been initiated by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), and clearly developed to show power in the building of sovereign AI based on Korean technologies across the entire technology stack.
Five consortia led by the country’s leadingtechnology companies, including SK Telecom, LG, and Naver, are tasked to develop foundation models using mainly domestic technology. The SK telecom group includes some interesting partners such as gaming company Krafton andsemiconductor start-upRebellions. The aim of creating new AI foundation models is to reduce the reliance on foreign AI foundation models.
South Korea's globally competitivesemiconductor industry. Major players such as Samsung and SK Hynix will supply high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and on-shoring fabrication support, …
South Korea's 'mega project': Samsung, SK to invest $1.3 ... - CNBCTV18
South Korea's 'mega project': Samsung, SK to invest $1.3 ... - CNBCTV18
South Korea's 'mega project': Samsung, SK to invest $1.3 trillion over 10 years, says report
South Korea plans three mega projects including a southwest semiconductor hub, with huge Samsung and SK investments, to boost AI and regional growth amid political debate over Lee Jae Myung
By
Reuters
June 29, 2026, 7:26:48 AM IST
(Published)
3 Min Read
South Korea is set to unveil three "mega-projects" to fuel its next growth phase, including a new semiconductor hub in the southwest that local media say could attract investments by Samsung and SK spanning hundreds of billions of dollars over several years.
The announcement would mark President Lee Jae Myung's boldest push yet to align South Korea's AI and chip ambitions with his pledge to narrow regional disparities and revive economies beyond the Seoul metropolitan area.
Lee will preside over the event, framed as a national "great leap" due to be unveiled around 0500 GMT, his office said, with ministries covering industry, science, climate and transport set to outline policy support.
Samsung Electronics and SK are expected to present investment plans, and their chair…
(3rd LD) S. Korea to build semiconductor cluster in southwest with 800 tln won in corporate investment
(3rd LD) S. Korea to build semiconductor cluster in southwest with 800 tln won in corporate investment
SEOUL, June 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to develop a new semiconductor prod...
Samsung and SK Hynix Commit $520 Billion to Build Chip Plants Outside ...
Samsung and SK Hynix Commit $520 Billion to Build Chip Plants Outside ...
South Korea is betting $520 billion that it can turn its underdeveloped southwest into the world's most powerful AI chip manufacturing corridor, with
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix committing to build four new fabrication plants
outside the Seoul metropolitan area for the first time. The two companies, which together produce roughly two-thirds of the world's memory chips, said Monday they will invest a combined
800 trillion won ($518 billion)
in the plan. President Lee Jae Myung joined Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong and SK Hynix Chairman Chey Tae-won in Seoul to announce the initiative, which Lee cast as a "great leap forward" built on semiconductors, physical AI and data centers.
"We must secure the core elements of AI faster than any other country," Lee said in a televised address.
Samsung's new fabs will go to the southwestern city of Gwangju, where experts have proposed sites including the grounds of a military air base slated for relocation.
SK Hynix will build two plants in the same region,
expanding beyond its existing manufacturing cluster in Gyeonggi Province that took nine years to establish. The …
South Korea to unveil $650 billion AI and chip mega-plan under ...
South Korea to unveil $650 billion AI and chip mega-plan under ...
The scale of the announcement, if investments materialise at the reported $651 billion level over the coming years, represents a structural demand signal for the global semiconductor supply chain, advanced manufacturing equipment and AI infrastructure buildout. SK Hynix in particular warrants close attention given its pivotal role in high-bandwidth memory supply for AI accelerators; any confirmed capacity expansion in a new location adds long-term supply optionality but introduces near-term execution uncertainty that the market will need to price. Korean utility and infrastructure names are the immediate domestic read-through, given the government's commitment to cover power, water and land support. The political risk embedded in the southwest location deserves monitoring: a plan framed as national survival strategy but contested as regional favouritism carries the kind of domestic political volatility that can delay or reshape large infrastructure commitments, particularly in a country where industrial policy and electoral politics intersect closely.
---
South Korea unveils three AI and chip mega-projects includin…
South Korea Unveils National AI Model to Challenge U.S. and China in ...
South Korea Unveils National AI Model to Challenge U.S. and China in ...
In a bold move to assert its technological sovereignty, South Korea has launched a national project to develop foundational artificial intelligence (AI) models powered predominantly by domestic technologies. The initiative, spearheaded by theMinistry of Science and ICT (MSIT), aims to reduce dependency on foreign AI giants like the United States and China while positioning Korean technology as a viable global alternative.
The government has selected five consortia, led by major tech players such asSK Telecom, LG, and Naver, to develop state-of-the-art AI models. These teams include leading Korean firms such as gaming powerhouse Krafton, chipmaker Rebellions, and semiconductor giants like SK Hynix and Samsung, collectively covering every layer of the AI “stack” — from chips to cloud infrastructure to AI applications.
“We are going through an important juncture in terms of our technological development,” said Kim Taeyoon, Head of the Foundation Model Office atSK Telecom. “Korea, at the national level, is focusing on ensuring that we lay the technical foundation to have our competitiveness.”
A Full AI Stack: …
South Korea is in talks with Samsung and SK Hynix over a second chip ...
South Korea is in talks with Samsung and SK Hynix over a second chip ...
Image by: The CHOSUN Daily
A presidential adviser says AI demand could pull forward the next phase of fab construction by more than a decade, and that the country needs somewhere to put it.
South Korea’s government is in talks with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix about the next phase of large-scale investment in chip manufacturing, a presidential adviser said on Wednesday, adding that an announcement on a new chip cluster would follow soon.
The remarks, from presidential policy adviser Kim Yong-beom, framed the conversation less as a negotiation than as a logistics problem the country has not yet solved.
The pressure, Kim told a discussion panel, comes from demand. “Exponential and explosive” growth in orders driven by the AI industry could require the two companies to speed up construction of new facilities by more than 10 years, bringing forward to 2034 or 2035 capacity that had been planned for later. The schedule is being rewritten by how fast the chips are selling.
The 💜 of EU tech
The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's fr…
South Korea Bets Big on AI and Chips With Mega Investment Push
South Korea Bets Big on AI and Chips With Mega Investment Push
Home
Team SNG
South Korea Bets Big on AI and Chips With Mega Investment Push
Select Preferred on Google News
South Korea is set to launch three major development projects aimed at driving its next phase of economic growth, including a new semiconductor hub in the country’s southwest that could attract more than 1,000 trillion won ($650 billion) in investment over the coming years.
South Korea: Samsung To Pledge $648Bln Investment Amid AI Boom
President Lee Jae Myung is expected to unveil the package as part of what his office has described as a national “great leap”, bringing together government ministries and leading technology companies to accelerate the country’s ambitions in artificial intelligence and semiconductors.
Samsung and SK Expected to Lead Investment
According to local media reports, Samsung Electronics and SK Group are expected to announce major investment plans during the event.
China Has No Caste System But Is A Deeply Unequal Society
Samsung Chairman Jay Y. Lee and SK Chairman Chey Tae-won are among the business leaders expected to attend, alongside representatives from LG Electronics, HD Hyundai Robo…
South Korean tech giants commit over $550B to ease 'RAMageddon'
South Korean tech giants commit over $550B to ease 'RAMageddon'
The first StrictlyVC of 2026 hits SF on April 30. Tickets are going fast.Register now.
Founder Summitticket savings of up to $190 end June 26. Join 1,000+ founders and VCs for all-day bootcamp.REGISTER NOW.
The world’s two largest memory chip companies plan to invest $518 billion (~800 trillion won) to build four new memory fabs in southwestern South Korea, a region that has historically attracted little semiconductor investment.
The announcement is part of the country’s sweeping national investment plan spanning semiconductors, AI data centers, and physical AI, which was unveiled at a presidential briefing on Monday, with the chairmen of Samsung and SK Hynix in attendance. The plan breaks down into three buckets. In the memory chip bucket is $518 billion for four new memory fabs in the southwest, plus $52 billion for an HBM (high bandwidth memory) packaging hub in the central region. Then there’s another $356 billion (550 trillion won) for AI data centers to be built by Korean tech and energy behemoths such as SK, GS, and Naver through 2035.
All told, South Korean tech companies have committed to spend over $900 …
South Korea to invest nearly $1.2 trillion in chips, AI data centres
South Korea to invest nearly $1.2 trillion in chips, AI data centres
Business
Investment
South Korea to invest nearly $1.2 trillion in chips, AI data centres
PUBLISHED : 29 Jun 2026 at 14:45
WRITER:
AFP
Small
Medium
Large
Asia's fourth-largest economy is riding high on a global AI boom. (Photo: AFP)
SEOUL - South Korea will invest nearly US$1.2 trillion -- equivalent to more than two-thirds of its GDP -- in a new chip-building hub and AI data centres over several years, as it seeks to profit from soaring demand while developing previously neglected regions.
The enormous cash injection comes as Asia's fourth-largest economy rides high on a global AI boom -- with South Korean memory chipmakers emerging as a crucial cog in the fast-moving industry.
"Speed is the only path to survival. We must secure the core elements of artificial intelligence faster than any other nation," President Lee Jae Myung said in Seoul at an event to unveil the public-private collaboration.
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix will make a record investment of 800 trillion won (around $520 billion) in a new semiconductor fabrication hub in the country's southwest, the government said.
Both companies have seen pro…
[Editorial] Beyond political geography - The Korea Herald
[Editorial] Beyond political geography - The Korea Herald
Infrastructure, not politics, will determine whether Korea's chip expansion plan succeeds
Industrial maps are often mistaken for political ones. South Korea's latest semiconductor strategy invites exactly that confusion.
Ahead of Monday’s public-private briefing on the government's "Three Mega Projects," Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are expected to unveil investment plans that could eventually total as much as 1,000 trillion won ($651 billion), with more than 350 trillion won reportedly tied to semiconductor and artificial intelligence ecosystems.
The proposal’s most consequential feature is not its size but its geography: a major semiconductor cluster in the southwestern "Honam" region.
The goal deserves consideration. South Korea cannot indefinitely concentrate its most advanced industries in the Seoul metropolitan area. Land constraints around Pyeongtaek and Yongin in Gyeonggi Province, infrastructure bottlenecks and the need to diversify industrial capacity all support the argument for expanding the country's semiconductor footprint.
Creating another manufacturing hub should therefore be viewed as an economic s…
South Korea Unveils $649B Samsung-Led AI Push Into Chips, Data Centers ...
South Korea Unveils $649B Samsung-Led AI Push Into Chips, Data Centers ...
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung unveiled three sweeping public-private mega-projects on Sunday, anchored by a commitment from Samsung Group to invest 1,000 trillion won — roughly $649 billion over 10 years — in semiconductors, artificial intelligence data centers, and physical AI including robotics. The announcement, delivered at the presidential compound in Seoul, is thelargest single corporate investment pledge in South Korean historyand positions the country's two dominant memory chipmakers, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, as the primary engines of what Lee's government calls a national "great leap" into the AI era.
Samsung Group Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won both attended the presidential briefing and presented their companies' respective investment plans. The two chairmen had met separately with President Lee in the weeks before the announcement to coordinate the public-private framework — Lee Jae-yong on June 25 and Chey Tae-won on June 19.
Read more:SK Hynix Dethroned Samsung After 26 Years: Now Choosing DDR5 Profits Over HBM4 Ramp
The figure deserves co…
Korean tech giants plan new chip hub as AI demand grows | AP News
Korean tech giants plan new chip hub as AI demand grows | AP News
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung attends an announcement with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won at the Blue House presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, June 29, 2026. (Kim Min-Hee/Pool Photo via AP)
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, center, holds hands with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, right, and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won after an announcement of building a new computer chipmaking hub, as they meet at the Blue House presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, June 29, 2026. (Kim Min-Hee/Pool Photo via AP)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean tech giantsSamsung Electronicsand SK Hynix said Monday they will invest a combined 800 trillion won ($518 billion) in building a new computer chipmaking hub in the country’s southwest region, capitalizing on surgingartificial intelligence-driven demand.
PresidentLee Jae Myungjoined the companies’ chairs Monday in announcing the plan, which dovetails with the government’s efforts to expand investment beyond the greater Seoul metropolitan area, the country’s economic center and heart of …
(News Focus) S. Korea's ambitious chip plan raises questions over execution, infrastructure challenges
(News Focus) S. Korea's ambitious chip plan raises questions over execution, infrastructure challenges
SEOUL, June 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Monday unveiled an ambitious plan to b...
South Korea taps Samsung, SK Hynix in $745 billion plan to cement ...
South Korea taps Samsung, SK Hynix in $745 billion plan to cement ...
South Korea taps Samsung, SK Hynix in $745 billion plan to cement global AI chip lead
Sign up now:
Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
(From left) SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Samsung Electronics chairman Jay Y. Lee at a news conference to announce mega chip and AI projects on June 29, 2026.
PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
Published
Jun 29, 2026, 09:03 AM
Updated
Jun 29, 2026, 06:56 PM
Set as preferred source
Listen
SEOUL – South Korea on June 29 laid out a sweeping industrial strategy centred on semiconductors and artificial intelligence, as President Lee Jae Myung unveiled over US$576 billion (S$
745
billion) in investment to lock in global dominance and drive more balanced growth.
The plan, anchored by Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, marks Lee’s boldest push yet to align South Korea’s AI and chip ambitions with his pledge to narrow regional disparities and revive economies beyond the Seoul metropolitan area.
Flanked by the chiefs of the world’s two biggest memory chipmakers, Lee cast the initiative as a “great leap forward”, centred on the “triple axis” of semiconductor…
South Korea Bets $1 Tn On AI Chips: What The Country's Big ... - Times Now
South Korea Bets $1 Tn On AI Chips: What The Country's Big ... - Times Now
Artificial intelligence chips have become the backbone of the tech industry, driving businesses and even having the potential to drive economies. South Korea has now announced a plan to invest nearly 1,300 trillion won (around $1 trillion) over the coming years to strengthen its AI and semiconductor industries, according to BBC.
This announcement was made by President Lee Jae Myung on Monday as part of the country’s Three Mega Projects to expand chip manufacturing, build AI data centres and develop robotics technology.
Breaking It Down
How is Nvidia collaborating with South Korean companies?
What challenges is TSMC facing in chip production?
What impact does Samsung's potential strike have on the global market?
Created with AI. Errors are possible
South Korea Bets Big On AI And Chip Manufacturing
As per the publication, Lee highlighted that the
investment
is critical for the country’s future as demand for advanced semiconductors continues to rise worldwide. Speaking at a televised event alongside executives from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, Lee asserted that South Korea must move faster than its compet…
South Korea unveils $1.2 trillion bet on chips and AI to cement global ...
South Korea unveils $1.2 trillion bet on chips and AI to cement global ...
South Korea will invest nearly $1.2 trillion, equivalent to more than two-thirds of its GDP, in a new chip-building hub and AI data centres over several years, as it seeks to profit from soaring demand while developing previously neglected regions.
The enormous cash injection comes as Asia's fourth-largest economy rides high on a global AI boom, with South Korean memory chipmakers emerging as a crucial cog in the fast-moving industry.
"Speed is the only path to survival. We must secure the core elements of artificial intelligence faster than any other nation," President Lee Jae-myung said in Seoul at an event to unveil the public-private collaboration.
"Semiconductors, physical AI, and AI data centres are the triple axis for our great leap forward."
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix will make a record investment of 800 trillion won (around $520 billion) in a new semiconductor fabrication hub in the country's southwest, the government said.
Both companies have seen profits and share prices skyrocket in recent months, as frenzied demand for AI infrastructure squeezes the global supply of memory chips.
Th…
South Korea unveils $383M national AI initiative to challenge US, China ...
South Korea unveils $383M national AI initiative to challenge US, China ...
Best crypto insights delivered straight to your inbox.
South Korea has launched a task force that includes some of its biggest companies to establish a national foundational AI model. The model will include domestic technology, as the country tries to keep pace with the U.S. and China in the AI race.
Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) revealed on August 4 that the country selected five consortia to develop the project. The five elite tech teamsincludeNaver, LG AI Research, SK Telecom, NC AI, and Upstage.
The government will invest roughly 530 billion won ($383 million) in the AI foundation model, which it expects will be established by 2027. 450 billion won will be allocated for GPU support, 62.8 billion won for securing AI training data, and roughly 25 billion won for talent recruitment.
South Koreaalso plans to use 100 billion won to leverage public data from institutions, including the National Archives and the National Institute of Korean History. Another 200 billion won will be used for high-quality broadcast video datasets to support AI training.
The ministry said the five consortia will…
Samsung readies $648 billion bet, report says, as AI boom reshapes ...
Samsung readies $648 billion bet, report says, as AI boom reshapes ...
By Heejin Kim, Joyce Lee and Hyunjoo Jin
SEOUL, June 26 (Reuters) – Samsung Group will pledge on Monday 1,000 trillion won ($648 billion) in South Korea over the next decade, a media report said, in a sweeping effort to turn a global AI-driven chip boom into a nationwide growth engine.
Top executives from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix — firms that have reaped huge profits as AI drives relentless demand for chips — will attend a meeting with President Lee Jae Myung and lay out investment plans targeting regions beyond Seoul, the Maeil Business Newspaper said on Friday.
Samsung’s investment will include spending on AI data centres, batteries and displays as well as a potential 300 trillion won push to build chip factories in the country’s southwest, it said without citing sources.
The initiative underscores how South Korea is racing to convert surging AI-driven chip demand into a broader economic boost beyond Seoul, but infrastructure limits and labour shortages threaten to complicate efforts to redraw the country’s industrial map.
The concentration of the chipmakers’ production facilities in areas around Se…
Samsung, SK Hynix to invest $880B in chips and data centers
Samsung, SK Hynix to invest $880B in chips and data centers
Samsung, SK Hynix to invest $880B in chips and data centers
South Korea's semiconductor giants are accelerating a massive buildout to meet AI-driven demand for advanced memory chips
Share
Add us on Google
by
Editorial Team
Jun. 29, 2026
South Korea just dropped the kind of number that makes even the biggest spenders in tech do a double take. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, the country’s two semiconductor heavyweights, are committing at least 1,350 trillion won to chips and data centers. That translates to roughly $880 billion, a figure that dwarfs most national infrastructure programs.
But that might only be the starting point. The two companies could unveil joint plans to invest up to 2,000 trillion won, approximately $1.3 trillion, in semiconductor initiatives over the next decade.
Where the money is going
Samsung Group alone plans to invest 1,000 trillion won, roughly $648 billion, over 10 years. That spending covers chip factories, AI data centers, batteries, and displays.
A significant chunk of Samsung’s allocation, around 300 trillion won, is earmarked for new fabrication facilities in southwestern South Korea. Th…
(2nd LD) S. Korea to build semiconductor cluster in southwest with 800 tln won in corporate investment
(2nd LD) S. Korea to build semiconductor cluster in southwest with 800 tln won in corporate investment
SEOUL, June 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to develop a new semiconductor prod...
How South Korea’s AI megaprojects aim to ‘maintain edge’ over China, meet demand
How South Korea’s AI megaprojects aim to ‘maintain edge’ over China, meet demand
South Korea’s US$518 billion semiconductor push aims to tap the artificial intelligence boom into a durable industrial advantage and keep up with leading rival China, according to observers.
The plan is intended to secure supplies of advanced memory chips needed for AI data centres and computing infrastructure, while easing pressure on the Seoul metropolitan area by creating a second major chipmaking base in the country’s southwest.
President Lee Jae Myung on Monday unveiled the government’s...
Corroboration
No verdict, no pronouncement. The model extracts atomic factual claims with verbatim quotes; every quote is validated against the source text and corroboration is computed by counting how many editorially-opposed blocs assert each fact.
The spine · 4 facts corroborated across ≥2 opposed blocs
3×cross-perspective · 3Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix will invest a combined 800 trillion won (US$518 billion) to build a semiconductor manufacturing hub in South Korea’s southwest.
chinakoreaother
gdelt“South Korea's two biggest chipmakers, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, will invest a combined 800 trillion won (US$518 billion) to build a massive semiconductor manufacturing hub in the country's southwest as they expand production to meet soaring global demand driven by artificial intelligence.”
scmp“South Korea’s US$518 billion semiconductor push aims to tap the artificial intelligence boom into a durable industrial advantage and keep up with leading rival China, according to observers.”
yna“(3rd LD) S. Korea to build semiconductor cluster in southwest with 800 tln won in corporate investment”
hindustantimes.com“Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix plan to invest more than $500 billion in a new chip-making hub in southwestern South Korea, collaborating with the government’s push to bring the artificial-intelligence boom to less-developed regions.”
2×cross-perspective · 2The investment plan was announced on June 29 and unveiled by President Lee Jae Myung together with the chairmen of Samsung and SK Hynix.
chinaother
gdelt“The investment plan, announced on June 29, was unveiled by President Lee Jae Myung alongside the chairmen of both companies.”
scmp“President Lee Jae Myung on Monday unveiled the government’s...”
1×cross-perspective · 2Samsung Chairman Lee Jae‑yong said Samsung’s new facilities will be built in the southwestern city of Gwangju.
other
gdelt“Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong said the company's new facilities will be built in the southwestern city of Gwangju, where several potential sites have been proposed, including the grounds of a milit”
hindustantimes.com“Samsung said the southwestern city of Gwangju was a likely site for its new factories.”
1×cross-perspective · 2The government is pushing to spread industrial investment and the AI boom to regions outside the Seoul metropolitan area.
other
gdelt“The project supports the government's push to spread industrial investment beyond the greater Seoul metropolitan area, which currently dominates South Korea's semiconductor industry.”
hindustantimes.com“collaborating with the government’s push to bring the artificial-intelligence boom to less-developed regions.”
Single-source · 8 — reported by one bloc only (uncorroborated)
Samsung and SK Hynix together produce about two‑thirds of the world’s memory chips.
gdelt
Each company will build two fabrication plants in the southwest, adding to their existing manufacturing complexes in Gyeonggi Province.
gdelt
The plan aims to secure supplies of advanced memory chips needed for AI data centres and computing infrastructure.
scmp
The plan aims to ease pressure on the Seoul metropolitan area by creating a second major chipmaking base in the southwest.
scmp
The initiative envisions the creation of four new memory‑chip‑making plants in the southwest.
hindustantimes.com
SK Hynix and Samsung each will invest about 400 trillion won (roughly US$260 billion) in the new hub.
hindustantimes.com
An additional 81 trillion won (roughly US$53 billion) will be spent on chip‑packaging facilities.
hindustantimes.com
The semiconductor push is intended to keep up with leading rival China.
scmp
Framing · 3 — loaded language surfaced (spin shown, not adopted)
gdelt
“massive semiconductor manufacturing hub”
→ massive
scmp
“durable industrial advantage”
→ durable
hindustantimes.com
“bring the artificial-intelligence boom to less-developed regions”
→ less-developed
Entities
AP Newsorg
Presidentperson
South Koreaplace
S. Koreaplace
Samsungorg
SK hynixorg
The Korea Heraldorg
Data centers for AIorg
News Focusorg
SKplace
South Korean tech giantsorg
new chip hubplace