South Korea is seeking to strengthen its semiconductor relationship with the Netherlands, and South Korean President Yook Suk Yeol reportedly departed for a state visit earlier today.
The last time a visit of this magnitude happened was 62 years ago. In 1961, the leaders of South Korea and the Netherlands established the foundation of a partnership focused on industry supply chains, science, culture, and agriculture.
According to President Yook Suk Yeol (via Reuters), this trip to the Netherlands marks “a crucial turning point for the Korea-Netherlands semiconductor alliance.”
South Korean President to visit ASML
The recent report states that President Yoon will visit AMSL's facilities. ASML is a leading manufacturer and supplier of chip-making equipment and the only company in the world able to manufacture and supply equipment for EUV lithography.
In a written interview with Agence France-Presse, President Yoon said “The global environment surrounding the semiconductor industry is rapidly changing in tandem with competition for technological supremacy and supply chain restructuring.”
The Netherlands is no longer selling EUV chip manufacturing equipment to China, as it has joined the USA and Japan on export restrictions.
As it happens, Samsung is a major ASML shareholder, even if the Korean company made $2.2 billion earlier this year from selling a portion of its ASML shares. In its quest to become the world's biggest semiconductor chip company by 2030, Samsung reportedly plans to buy 50 EUV chip manufacturing units (worth ~$153 million each) from ASML over the next five years.
Meanwhile, according to Yoon's office, ASML is building a new assembly facility in South Korea. The construction is backed by a 240 billion won ($181) investment.
