[Semiconductor History]② Who Is Kang Kidong, Korea's 'Pioneer of Semiconductors'?

[Asia Economy, So Jongseop, Trend & Weekend Managing Editor] The history of semiconductors in South Korea began on January 26, 1974, with the establishment of Korea Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (hereafter Korea Semiconductor) in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. The founder of this first semiconductor company in South Korea was Dr. Kang Kidong.

Jin Goo Kang, former president of Samsung Electronics, wrote in his autobiography, The Samsung Electronics Myth and Its Secret (Koryowon, 1996), "It was Dr. Kang Kidong's Korea Semiconductor that established the first full-scale semiconductor factory in the uncharted territory of semiconductors." Korea Semiconductor was later acquired by Samsung and became Samsung Semiconductor, which eventually evolved into today's Samsung Electronics.

For these reasons, Dr. Kang is called "the pioneer of Korean semiconductors" and "the one who sowed the seeds of semiconductors." Despite his crucial role in the history of Korean semiconductors, few people remember him. Who is Kang Kidong? ▶Related article [Sunday Interview] 'Pioneer of Semiconductors' Dr. Kang Kidong: "The company is like my own child... I hope Samsung Electronics thrives"

Dr Kang Kidong, the representative of Korea Semiconductor and president of Samsung Semiconductor, is a pioneer of Korean semiconductors but is not well known. Photo by Heo Younghan younghan@

Kang Kidong was born on December 9, 1934, in Hamhung, South Hamgyong Province, as the eldest son among three sons and two daughters. His registered hometown is Daejeo-myeon, Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province. His father, Kang Jongmoo, studied in Japan (Yamaguchi High School - Tokyo Imperial University, Department of Agricultural Civil Engineering) and, after returning, worked for the Governor-General of Korea, building many reservoirs and embankments along the Nakdong River. His grandfather, Kang Jeonghwan, was a prominent figure in South Gyeongsang Province. Dr. Kang graduated from Cheongnyang Elementary School, Kyunggi Middle School, and Kyunggi High School, and then earned a degree in electrical engineering from Seoul National University. Among his classmates during middle and high school were former Prime Ministers Lee Hongkoo and Lee Hoechang, particle physicist Dr. Lee Whisoo, and former Minister of Science and Technology Seo Jungwook.

He went to study in the United States and earned his master's and doctoral degrees at Ohio State University. His father's frequent advice, "Since your field is electrical engineering, you should learn essential electrical technologies for our country and accomplish something significant that others cannot," influenced his career path. His wife, Kim Soonho, who graduated from Kyunggi Girls' High School and Yonsei University's Department of Physics, passed away in 2018. The couple had one son and one daughter. Kang Kidong currently lives in Reno, Nevada, United States.

The room scene of Dr. Ki Dong Kang when he lived in Pildong, Junggu, Seoul. Provided by Ki Dong Kang

Since middle school, he frequented Cheonggyecheon, collecting soldering irons, nippers, and other tools. When he evacuated to Busan in 1951, he came across the American Radio Relay League's magazine and developed an interest in amateur radio. During his time at the tent school in Daeshin-dong, Busan, he started a physics club to teach younger students and graduated from Kyunggi High School there. After being admitted to Seoul National University's Department of Electrical Engineering, he would visit the Ministry of Communications in Gwanghwamun whenever possible, requesting permission to operate amateur radio. At the time, amateur radio was an unfamiliar field, and as a result, he was sometimes mistaken for a spy. After the misunderstanding was resolved, he helped the Special Intelligence Division of the National Police Agency catch spies using radio communications at their request. In 1953, he passed the exam on his own and became the first person in Korea to obtain an amateur radio operator's license (A26001 - October 6, 1953).

Dr. Ki Dong Kang is also Korea's first amateur radio operator. Provided by Dr. Ki Dong Kang

Through these connections, on April 20, 1955, Kang Kidong led the founding of the Korea Amateur Radio League at Dongguk Radio High School in Bongnae-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul. It was during this time that he formed relationships with Lee Deokbin, who later arranged his studies at Ohio State University, and Kim Gyuhan, who later provided funding for the founding of Korea Semiconductor. The post office box address at Seoul Central Post Office, which the Amateur Radio League still uses today, was also originally his.

Dr. Ki Dong Kang during his time at Ohio State University. Provided by Ki Dong Kang

In 1958, Kang Kidong went to study in the United States, where he earned his master's and doctoral degrees in semiconductor research at Ohio State University and led the establishment of a semiconductor research institute. He inherited the apartment of former Prime Minister Lee Youngdeok and his wife, who were close friends and returned to Korea, and lived there. After graduating, he joined Motorola in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1962, and later moved to Stewart-Warner in Silicon Valley in 1969. At that time, he maintained close relationships with Dr. Kang Daewon, a senior from Kyunggi High School, Seoul National University, and Ohio State University, and with Kim Chungki, an honorary professor at KAIST, who was a junior from Kyunggi High School and Seoul National University and had earned his doctorate at Columbia University before joining Fairchild. In 1973, Kang Kidong returned to Korea and, in January 1974, established both ICII in the United States and Korea Semiconductor Co., Ltd. in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province.

Scenery of ICII in the United States. Provided by Kang Kidong

Even after Korea Semiconductor was acquired by Samsung, he served as president of Samsung Semiconductor for nearly two years before returning to the United States in 1976. In 1982, he met with Chung Ju-yung, chairman of Hyundai Group, who visited him in the United States to pursue a new semiconductor business. However, after much deliberation, he declined Chairman Chung's offer to become president and effectively withdrew from public life (Chung Ju-yung later became the president of Hyundai Electronics himself and entered the semiconductor business). Unable to simply live idly, in the early 1990s he developed a power supply for nuclear submarines to make a living. After turning 60, he learned ballroom dancing with his wife and even won first place in a competition. He began to speak publicly about his life only after his wife passed away in 2018.

Business plan submitted by Dr. Ki Dong Kang to Hyundai Group. Provided by Ki Dong Kang