Lee Jae-yong, Smiling Broadly on Return... Kyung Kye-hyun "Securing Priority in EUV Technology" (Comprehensive)

"Semiconductors accounted for almost 90%"

After accompanying President Yoon Suk-yeol on his state visit to the Netherlands, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong returned to Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center at 7:03 a.m. on the 15th with a bright expression. Regarding the results of the business trip, he expressed satisfaction, saying, "Semiconductors accounted for almost 90%."

Chairman Lee departed for the Netherlands on the 11th and completed related schedules, including a visit to the headquarters of semiconductor equipment company ASML, before returning on this day. Although he covered his somewhat tired face with both hands and said, "I just woke up," he confidently spoke about the results of the Netherlands trip with a bright expression, saying, "Semiconductors accounted for almost 90%."

Chairman Lee showed a satisfied expression with the business trip results and patted Kyung Kye-hyun, President of the DS Division overseeing the semiconductor sector at Samsung Electronics, on the shoulder, asking for further explanation. President Kyung said regarding Samsung Electronics and ASML's decision to jointly operate a next-generation extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment research and development (R&D) center in Dongtan, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, "Since EUV is one of the most important pieces of equipment, Samsung Electronics has secured a very strong ally in terms of the semiconductor supply chain."

This is the first case of ASML establishing a joint R&D center overseas. ASML is the sole global producer of EUV equipment that engraves circuits on silicon wafers. Since EUV equipment is essential for sub-7-nanometer (nm; 1 nm = one-billionth of a meter) fine processes, it is called the semiconductor industry's 'super Eul (乙)'.

President Kyung added, "Samsung Electronics will develop next-generation EUV 'High Numerical Aperture (NA)' related technologies, which are more advanced than existing EUV equipment, at the R&D center with ASML," and said, "Samsung and ASML engineers will jointly conduct research to maximize the effects of introducing High NA." He further emphasized, "Samsung will have technical priority over High NA," and "This creates an opportunity to effectively use High NA in DRAM and logic in the long term."

High NA is a key piece of equipment for implementing ultra-fine processes below 2 nm. It is expected to be fully introduced in 2025. ASML has announced plans to secure production capacity of up to 20 units annually by 2028, but since many companies including Samsung Electronics, Taiwan's TSMC, and the U.S.'s Intel are demanding supply, securing equipment has become a critical factor in business competitiveness.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics has been holding a global strategy meeting since the previous day to discuss next year's business plans by each division. President Kyung is expected to attend the DS Division strategy meeting on the 19th to review the impact of cooperation with ASML on Samsung Electronics' semiconductor business and to establish detailed plans. Chairman Lee is reportedly not attending the meeting directly as in previous years but will receive reports on business strategies later.