Overview
South Korean chip leaders Samsung Electronics (KS:005930) and SK Hynix (KS:000660) are set to unveil a joint investment programme valued at approximately 2,000 trillion won, equivalent to about US$1.3 trillion, aimed at expanding the nation’s semiconductor and artificial‑intelligence (AI) infrastructure.
Investment Scale and Timeline
- Samsung Electronics intends to allocate around 1,000 trillion won over the next ten years.
- SK Hynix is expected to announce a commitment of a similar magnitude, bringing the combined total to roughly 2,000 trillion won.
Regional Development Focus
The blueprint outlines three geographic pillars:
- Honam region – development of a new semiconductor cluster.
- Chungcheong region – concentration of data‑center investments.
- Yeongnam region – implementation of physical AI‑related projects.
Announcement Setting
The plans will be disclosed at a government‑led event scheduled for Monday. Attendees confirmed by the report include:
- Lee Jae Myung (President of South Korea),
- Lee Jae‑yong (Chairman of Samsung Electronics), and
- Chey Tae‑won (Chairman of SK Group).
The presidential office previously indicated that the two firms would announce major investment plans this week as part of a broader regional development initiative, though it did not disclose the exact size of the investments.
Market Context
The announced spending comes as global chipmakers intensify capacity expansion to meet surging demand for AI‑related hardware. Notably, SK Hynix has recently overtaken Samsung as South Korea’s most valuable listed company, driven by its dominance in high‑bandwidth memory chips that are critical for AI systems.
Key Figures Recap
- Total announced investment: 2,000 trillion won (≈ US$1.3 trillion).
- Samsung’s individual commitment: ~1,000 trillion won over ten years.
- SK Hynix’s expected commitment: ~1,000 trillion won.
- Regional targets: Honam (semiconductor cluster), Chungcheong (data centres), Yeongnam (AI projects).