Yoon's First Local Company Visit During Overseas Tour
"ASML's Technological Innovation, Driving Force of the Global 4th Industrial Revolution"
ASML-Samsung Establish 'Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology R&D Center'
President Yoon Suk-yeol, on a state visit to the Netherlands, and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands are taking a commemorative photo after the Korea-Netherlands advanced semiconductor cooperation agreement ceremony held at the ASML headquarters in Veldhoven on the 12th (local time). From left: Choi Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group; President Yoon; King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands; Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics; Peter Wennink, CEO of ASML. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the occasion of President Yoon Suk-yeol's state visit to the Netherlands, ASML and Samsung Electronics signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) on the 12th (local time) to establish a 'Next-Generation Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology R&D Center' in Korea. The goal is to jointly develop ultra-fine processes based on next-generation EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet) technology by investing 1 trillion KRW together. SK Hynix also signed an 'MOU for the Development of Hydrogen Gas Recycling Technology for EUV' with ASML, and at the government level, there was a consensus to establish an academy for future generations.
On the second day of the state visit, President Yoon visited ASML, the world's only advanced semiconductor equipment manufacturer, in the afternoon. Accompanied by King Willem-Alexander, President Yoon held a meeting with representatives of major semiconductor companies from Korea, the Netherlands, and Europe and toured the next-generation EUV lithography equipment production site together. President Yoon stated, "The technological innovation led by ASML has become a powerful driving force for the global Fourth Industrial Revolution."
President Yoon Suk-yeol, on a state visit to the Netherlands, is putting on a cleanroom suit on the 12th (local time) before touring the 'cleanroom' at the ASML headquarters in Veldhoven, accompanied by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, and others, guided by Peter Wennink, CEO of ASML. From left: Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, President Yoon, ASML CEO Peter Wennink, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon Suk-yeol, on a state visit to the Netherlands, is listening to a company presentation along with Peter Wennink, CEO of ASML, and King Willem-Alexander (right) before the Korea-Netherlands semiconductor companies meeting held at the ASML headquarters in Veldhoven on the 12th (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon traveled from the capital Amsterdam to Veldhoven, where ASML is located, spending a total of four hours on the round trip. This ASML visit was also the first visit to a local company during the president's overseas tours. ASML is the only company in the world that produces EUV lithography equipment used in cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing for artificial intelligence, smartphones, and more, and has maintained a close cooperative relationship with Korean semiconductor companies for a long time.
After arriving at ASML, President Yoon and King Willem-Alexander signed a wafer engraved with a phrase commemorating the joint visit of the two heads of state. ASML plans to exhibit the signed wafer in its headquarters cleanroom. Following this, the two leaders held a meeting with representatives from major semiconductor companies and institutions from Korea, the Netherlands, and Europe that cooperate with ASML. Attendees included representatives from Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, ASML (Netherlands, lithography equipment), ASM (Netherlands, deposition equipment), Zeiss (Germany, optical systems), and IMEC (Belgium, semiconductor research institute).
President Yoon Suk-yeol, on a state visit to the Netherlands, visited the ASML headquarters in Veldhoven on the 12th (local time) and left his signature on a wafer. [Image source=Yonhap News]
At this meeting, President Yoon expressed gratitude, saying, "The technological innovation led by ASML has become a powerful driving force for the global Fourth Industrial Revolution," and acknowledged the increased investments by Dutch semiconductor companies such as ASML and ASM, which have been building new facilities in Korea for production, R&D, and talent development.
After the meeting, the governments and companies of both countries signed three MOUs for cooperation in the semiconductor field. First, amid a global shortage of semiconductor personnel, the two governments (Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs) signed an MOU to establish the 'Korea-Netherlands Advanced Semiconductor Academy,' which will provide on-site learning opportunities for graduate students from both countries using cutting-edge semiconductor production equipment. The Advanced Semiconductor Academy is scheduled to start its first training session in the Netherlands in February next year, with 100 participants from both countries.
ASML and Samsung Electronics also signed an MOU to establish a 'Next-Generation Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology R&D Center' in Korea, jointly developing ultra-fine processes based on next-generation EUV by investing 1 trillion KRW. This is the first time that ASML, an equipment company, has established an R&D center overseas jointly with a semiconductor manufacturing company to develop semiconductor manufacturing processes. Previously, President Yoon met twice with ASML Chairman Peter Wennink in November last year and July this year to request expanded investment in Korea.
SK Hynix also signed an 'MOU for the Development of Hydrogen Gas Recycling Technology for EUV' with ASML. Recycling hydrogen inside EUV equipment without burning it is expected to reduce power consumption by 20% and cut annual costs by 16.5 billion KRW.
Additionally, the two leaders visited ASML's cleanroom together to inspect the next-generation EUV equipment production site. The cleanroom visited by President Yoon and King Willem-Alexander is the next-generation EUV production site, which has never been fully disclosed before. The Korean government and companies show great interest in ASML because of its unique business. ASML is the only company in the world that produces EUV lithography equipment essential for ultra-fine processes below 7 nanometers (nm; 1 nm is one-billionth of a meter). The next-generation EUV equipment called 'High Numerical Aperture (NA),' which will be used for processes below 2 nm, is also expected to be introduced soon.
The exterior view of ASML headquarters located in Veldhoven, inspected by President Yoon Suk-yeol during his state visit to the Netherlands on the 12th (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]
With limited equipment supply, semiconductor companies eager for the latest lithography equipment are lining up, making equipment acquisition a key competitive advantage in ultra-fine processes. ASML announced at its event last year plans to secure production capacity for 90 EUV machines by 2026 and 20 High NA machines by 2028. The semiconductor industry expects Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, TSMC, and Intel in the U.S. to receive High NA equipment following EUV. It is reported that many companies have already signed supply contracts. A presidential office official stated, "The government plans to spare no effort to support the smooth implementation of the government and private sector cooperation MOUs signed during this ASML visit."
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