Semiconductor Super Eul ASML Breaks Ground in Hwaseong... Announces Strengthened Cooperation with Korea

ASML to Invest 240 Billion Won to Build Campus in Hwaseong
Including Remanufacturing Center and Global Training Center
Expecting Rapid Parts Supply and EUV Expert Training

Peter Wennink, ASML CEO, is speaking at a press conference with domestic reporters on the 15th. / Photo by Kim Pyeonghwa

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Pyeonghwa] ASML, a Dutch semiconductor equipment company known as the 'Super Eul (乙)' for its key role in ultra-fine processes, will break ground on a semiconductor cluster in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province on the 16th. ASML plans to invest 240 billion KRW in Korea by 2024 to establish an EUV equipment training center and more. This is expected to improve equipment supply issues for domestic semiconductor companies and expand semiconductor production capacity.

Peter Wennink, CEO of ASML, said at a press conference held at the InterContinental Seoul COEX on the 15th, "We made this investment because it is necessary to expand in a growth industry," adding, "We plan to further expand our business in Korea." Last year, ASML signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Gyeonggi Province and Hwaseong City to create the campus.

ASML will invest 240 billion KRW by the end of 2024 to build a 16,000㎡ campus in Dongtan 2 Urban Support Facility, Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province. The detailed facilities will include ▲ Remanufacturing Center ▲ Global Training Center ▲ Experience Center, among others. Lee Woo-kyung, CEO of ASML Korea, said, "This is the first direct investment in an overseas branch and the largest scale," adding, "We will make it an eco-friendly building that does not emit wastewater or exhaust."

At the Remanufacturing Center, ASML plans to carry out maintenance of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and deep ultraviolet (DUV) equipment it supplies, as well as domestic production of key components. If parts can be procured domestically, even if equipment malfunctions occur, repairs can be made quickly without procedures such as overseas shipping, reducing related costs, which will be advantageous for the domestic semiconductor industry. An industry official said, "Although the Korean branch has resolved some issues to some extent before, having a campus will allow for faster assistance."

Improved profits for domestic businesses linked to related parts are also expected. In fact, ASML announced that with the establishment of this campus, it will increase cooperation with domestic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), expanding the outsourcing ratio from the existing 10% to 50%. This is expected to foster mutual growth and indirect employment effects.

The Training Center will nurture personnel related to semiconductor equipment. With a shortage of domestic EUV experts, manpower can be supplemented through education. ASML also plans to conduct training on the next-generation EUV equipment, the High NA, at the new campus. Hwaseong City expects that more than 1,000 personnel will be produced over 10 years through this center.