Samsung Electronics is working to move up the start of operations for the fabs (plants) at the "Yongin advanced system semiconductor cluster" by one to two years from the original plan.
According to the industry on the 12th, Samsung Electronics is pushing related projects with a goal of starting operations in 2029 for the first fab among a total of six semiconductor production plants to be built at the Yongin national industrial complex. The start date has been moved up by one to two years.
This is seen as moving up the overall project timeline in line with the government's stance to expedite development of the Yongin national industrial complex. The timeline was also discussed at the "mega-project public-private joint review meeting" chaired by the president on the 6th.
Industry officials say that for the first fab to begin operations in 2029, site development work must start in the second half of this year at the latest, and construction of the fab must begin in 2027.
Given the government's stated intent to accelerate creation of the national industrial complex, the industry expects the schedule for supplying core infrastructure at the Yongin complex could also be moved up. If plans proceed as scheduled—such as an early start on construction of a 3-gigawatt (GW) liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plant being pursued by the government, shortening the timeline for second- and third-phase power supply, and expediting phased water supply—the likelihood of "operations in 2029" will increase further.
The Yongin national industrial complex is a national strategic project being developed as a next-generation semiconductor production base for Samsung Electronics. If the first fab's start date is moved up, not only will production capacity expand, but the creation of Korea's ecosystem for semiconductor materials, parts, and equipment is also expected to progress faster than anticipated.
At the end of last month, in its mega-project announcement, Samsung Electronics said it plans to invest 2,030 trillion won in the Pyeongtaek and Yongin semiconductor clusters and 400 trillion won in the Honam region, among other investments.