Samsung Electronics to Advance Yongin Semiconductor Plant by 1 to 2 Years

[Financial News] Samsung Electronics is pushing to begin operations at the first fab in its Yongin Semiconductor Cluster in 2029, one to two years earlier than originally planned.
According to industry sources on the 12th, Samsung Electronics is moving ahead with a plan to set 2029 as the target start date for the first fab among six semiconductor plants to be built in the Yongin National Industrial Complex. That is one to two years earlier than the 2030 to 2031 timeline that had previously been discussed.
The schedule was also discussed at a "Mega Project public-private joint review meeting" chaired by the president on the 6th. The move is seen as an effort to accelerate the overall project timeline in line with the government's push to speed up development of the Yongin National Industrial Complex.
Industry sources say that for the first fab to begin operations in 2029, site preparation work must start no later than the second half of this year, and construction of the fab must begin in 2027. Since building a cutting-edge semiconductor plant usually takes about two years, they say follow-up steps such as site preparation, compensation for land and obstacles, expropriation rulings, and contractor selection must also proceed without disruption.
In particular, as the government has expressed its intention to shorten the development period for the Yongin National Industrial Complex, the industry broadly expects that the schedule for key infrastructure such as power and water supply to the Yongin Industrial Complex could also be moved up.
If plans to break ground early on a 3-gigawatt LNG power plant, shorten the second- and third-phase power supply schedule, and accelerate phased water supply proceed as planned, the likelihood of the first fab starting operations in 2029 will rise further, according to expectations.
The Yongin National Industrial Complex is a state-led strategic project being developed as Samsung Electronics' next-generation semiconductor production base.
If the first fab begins operations earlier, the expansion of production capacity is expected to come sooner than planned. The development of Korea's semiconductor materials, parts and equipment ecosystem would also accelerate, and related follow-up projects would likely gain momentum.
Earlier, Samsung Electronics announced at the end of last month, during the Mega Project presentation, that it plans to invest 203 trillion won in the Pyeongtaek and Yongin semiconductor clusters and 40 trillion won in the Honam region.


[email protected] Yeon Ji-an Reporter