“From Samsung and SK to TSMC and Micron...” Lam Research Sees Korean Parts Purchases Reaching 2 Trillion Won This Year

[Financial News] Lam Research, the world’s No. 1 semiconductor etch equipment maker, is expected to source about 2 trillion won worth of parts from South Korea this year. As equipment made with South Korean parts is supplied not only to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and SK hynix but also to overseas semiconductor companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC) and Micron Technology, Inc., expectations are growing that South Korean materials, parts and equipment companies will expand their businesses.
According to industry sources and media reports on the 13th, Lam Research’s parts procurement from South Korean companies totaled about 1 trillion won last year and is expected to double to 2 trillion won this year. Parts made in South Korea are also used at Lam Research’s global manufacturing sites, providing its Korean partners with a channel to respond to overseas demand for semiconductor capital investment.
Dongwon Parts is a precision-parts company that supplies Lam Research with showerheads, chamber components and other products. To meet growing demand, it is pursuing construction of its seventh plant in Incheon, with an investment of about 40 billion won, and is targeting completion in the second half of 2027.
WONIK QnC CORPORATION supplies quartz and ceramic parts for semiconductor manufacturing to Lam Research and others. Quartz parts need to be replaced not only when new equipment is introduced but also during operation, so both increased equipment production and higher utilization rates at semiconductor plants can create business opportunities.
TCK counts Lam Research among its major customers and supplies silicon carbide (SiC) focus rings and other products for etching processes. This business structure allows it to capture demand for new equipment as well as replacement demand after mass production begins. In 2024, it received an award for excellence in new product introduction (NPI) performance at a Lam Research supplier event.
Youngkwang YKMC works with Lam Research on precision machining and surface treatment of chambers and parts for etching and deposition equipment, handling both direct deliveries and indirect supply. Texon has built up its capabilities in supplying frame assemblies, process chambers and other products through about 15 years of collaboration with Lam Research.
Cynos, a company specializing in cleaning and coating, is also considered a partner. It provides precision cleaning and coating services for semiconductor parts and was selected as a Lam Research outstanding supplier in 2022.
Meanwhile, Lam Research has built a supply chain with about 100 South Korean companies and supports joint engineering and quality management. It has also established an investment fund for Korean semiconductor companies with Hana Ventures, broadening the scope of collaboration through technology cooperation and investment.
One semiconductor industry source said, “Expanded sourcing in South Korea by global equipment makers could create opportunities for Korean partners to enter overseas markets,” adding, “However, the actual impact on sales is expected to vary depending on the products each company supplies, order volumes, whether its equipment is adopted, and other factors.” 


[email protected] Kim Gyeong-a Reporter