The World's Largest Semiconductor Belt... K-Chips Set a New History

[Financial News Yongin and Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi = Jung Won-il, Lee Dong-hyuk] "Huge cranes, construction vehicles, and a steady stream of busy workers...." The advanced semiconductor fabs that Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are building in Yongin and Pyeongtaek are not just ordinary chip plants. In the fierce global race for semiconductor dominance in the AI era, they are future production bases that will reignite Korea's economic growth engine. They are also a Korean-style Silicon Shield that will support industrial competitiveness and national security at the same time.
At 2 p.m. on the 19th, the SK hynix semiconductor cluster construction site in Yongin was filled with the roar of heavy machinery. Ready-mix concrete trucks and massive lorries moved constantly in and out of the site entrance, while traffic control staff busily directed vehicles on the road. Dozens of cranes surrounding the fab covered the sky like a forest. The huge frame and exterior walls of the fab were rising quickly, and lifts installed along the outside of the building moved up and down without pause, carrying workers and materials. The welding sounds and heavy equipment noise heard throughout the site were a vivid reminder of the Republic of Korea's growth engine starting to run fast again.
A similar scene unfolded around Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek Campus that same afternoon. As the workday ended, the Godeok-dong area of Pyeongtaek was filled with workers wearing fluorescent, blue, and purple vests. The name tags on their vests clearly identified the P4 and P5 plants being built as Samsung Electronics' next-generation memory production base.
The busy pace of the semiconductor industry is also bringing warmth to the local economy.
Lee In-sook, 65, who has run a real estate agency in Godeok-dong for eight years, said, "Since the beginning of this year, the atmosphere has been picking up as construction workers have gradually increased." Local merchants are also expecting a large-scale influx of labor around October. Lee said, "The P5 plant is currently undergoing exterior construction," adding that "there are talks that once internal work begins, an additional 20,000 to 30,000 workers could be deployed." Nearby businesses are also hopeful for a boost. Cho Byung-han, 71, who runs a lottery shop near Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek Campus, said, "When it's time to leave work, the number of construction workers is noticeably high," and added, "If more workers come in, restaurants and shops in the area will naturally regain their vitality."
Semiconductors are a core industry supporting the Korean economy and a leading driver of record exports. With the arrival of the AI era, memory demand is surging, and the industry outlook is brighter than ever. Industry watchers say that once the Pyeongtaek Campus and Yongin Cluster are completed, the world's largest advanced semiconductor production belt will be in place. It is expected to become a key production base for meeting the explosive demand for semiconductors in the AI era and a strategic asset that will support Korea's export competitiveness.
one1@fnnews.com Reporter