Biden's First Visit to Samsung in Korea... Will Lee Jae-yong Showcase '3nm Semiconductor'?

Biden Tours Samsung Pyeongtaek Semiconductor Plant with Yoon
Lee Jae-yong Highlights 3nm New Technology During Guided Visit

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Sun-mi] As U.S. President Joe Biden visits Samsung Electronics' Pyeongtaek plant on the 20th, attention is focused on whether the world's first 3-nanometer next-generation semiconductors and the latest technologies will be unveiled. Since Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong will personally guide the visit, it is widely expected that he will introduce the world's first 3-nanometer semiconductor prototype based on next-generation GAA technology, which is about to enter mass production soon.

According to political circles and industry sources, President Biden's first schedule upon arriving in Korea is to inspect Samsung Electronics' semiconductor plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. This is the first time a U.S. president has visited a domestic semiconductor factory. Previously, former President Donald Trump, who visited Korea in July 2017, flew over the Pyeongtaek plant by helicopter and remarked that he was "astonished by the vast scale," highlighting the significant interest from the U.S.

President Yoon Suk-yeol will accompany Biden and express the intention to expand economic and technological alliance cooperation at Samsung Electronics' semiconductor plant, the largest in the world. Vice Chairman Lee will personally accompany the two leaders.

Earlier, during the Korea-U.S. summit held in the U.S. last year, President Biden specially expressed gratitude to Samsung for deciding to build a plant in Taylor, Texas, so it is expected that Vice Chairman Lee will deliver messages related to investment. Some also anticipate that there may be mentions of additional investments.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

There are also expectations that Vice Chairman Lee will emphasize Samsung's technological prowess by introducing the world's first 3-nanometer semiconductor prototype based on next-generation GAA technology, which is about to enter mass production soon. Samsung Electronics plans to start mass production of the first-generation 3-nanometer product applying GAA technology within the first half of this year. It is known that the company has completed technology development and is preparing for mass production. GAA is an independent new technology that reduces chip area and power consumption while improving performance compared to the existing FinFET technology. Among foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturing) companies, only Samsung Electronics and Taiwan's TSMC have fine process technology below 10 nanometers. In the 3-nanometer process, Samsung is evaluated to be about six months ahead of TSMC, the world leader.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, from the U.S. semiconductor company which is a major customer of Samsung Electronics, will also accompany President Biden on this day. Samsung Electronics is contract manufacturing the latest mobile chip, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, and Qualcomm was included among Samsung Electronics' major revenue sources for the first time in the first quarter.