"100 Teams Visit Daily" The God-like TSMC, Why Indians Are Flocking to the New Shares These Days [Report]

[Silicon Shield: Into the Heart②]
Visitor Nationalities Shift with TSMC Investment Trends
Innovation Center Draws Up to 100 Groups Daily
Locals Take Pride in the "Huguo Shenshan"

Editor's NoteTSMC of Taiwan, which has quietly grown in the semiconductor market, is reorganizing its "Silicon Shield" lineup in response to tariff pressures from U.S. President Donald Trump. Recently, by announcing a surprise investment of $100 billion (approximately 145.9 trillion KRW) in the United States, TSMC is simultaneously responding to the Trump-induced tariff bomb and focusing on its production bases in Taiwan to enhance its deterrence against China. In particular, it is accelerating the establishment of ultra-fine semiconductor process facilities to quickly respond to market demand. Once clinging only to unknown industries for survival, TSMC is now actively defending its position as the world's number one semiconductor foundry. Asia Economy diagnoses TSMC's strategies, risk factors, and opportunities for Korea in four installments through on-site reporting in Taiwan and expert interviews regarding the global trade war.

On the 20th of last month, a foreign visitor was looking at an exhibit at the TSMC Innovation Hall within the Hsinchu Science Park in Taiwan. The visitor carefully examined the exhibit, which introduces the status of TSMC's factories and facilities, for a very long time.
(Photo by Kim Hyunjung)

"Depending on TSMC's latest investment status, the nationalities of major foreign visitors to Hsinchu change. This is a phenomenon that has appeared recently as investment in India has been promoted."

On the 20th of last month, at the TSMC Innovation Center (museum) in the Hsinchu Science Park in central Taiwan. Foreigners who appear to be of Indian nationality are frequently seen here, adjacent to the headquarters' Morris Chang Building. A local semiconductor industry official who visited the site together explained, "This is because TSMC has decided to establish a production plant in India and is promoting investment." TSMC has announced plans to build a legacy process 28-nanometer (nm) foundry plant in Gujarat, India, in cooperation with the Indian Tata Group. The investment scale is expected to be around $11 billion (approximately 14.75 trillion KRW).

Nine out of ten visitors are foreigners. They form groups of three to five and follow a 40-minute tour program to review TSMC's history. This program, which allows visitors to explore the evolution of semiconductor technology, the founding story of founder Morris Chang, and experience some technologies such as augmented reality (AR), has become a must-visit tourist course for foreign visitors alongside TSMC's rapid growth. The Innovation Center is also TSMC's only promotional window, as the company is extremely reluctant to engage with the media and outsiders. A local curator said, "Recently, the number of visitors interested in TSMC has sharply increased," adding, "On many days, about 100 groups visit per day."

TSMC Innovation Center, where reservations are closed for more than a month from the visit date. There is not a single day available for advance booking in March. (Source: TSMC Innovation Center website)

The Innovation Center is also popular among Taiwanese people. Mr. Hwang, in his 30s, whom we met in front of the Morris Chang Building, said he is not affiliated with TSMC but shared, "From children to the elderly, local residents all take pride in Taiwan becoming prosperous through this company." He smiled and said, "TSMC employees use the expression 'shangshan xiashan (上山下山)' instead of 'shangban xiaban (上班下班, meaning going to and from work in Chinese)," explaining, "It humorously expresses pride and respect for the 'Huguo Shenshan (護國神山, the sacred mountain protecting the country).' " Huguo Shenshan is a kind of honorific title commonly used for TSMC in Taiwan.

Behind this lies the meaning that TSMC not only protects Taiwan from China's military threats but also, thanks to its presence in the global semiconductor market, can make its voice heard in the industry even without diplomatic power. The gratitude also stems from making Taiwan wealthier and stronger through increasing sales and employment of about 70,000 people.

The TSMC Innovation Center has been gaining popularity, with reservations fully booked about a month ago. A person who was in charge of Innovation Center tours in the past explained, "Korean companies such as SK Hynix used to regularly select students to visit the TSMC Innovation Center and headquarters, but until about five to six years ago, the center was so empty it felt deserted," adding, "This change reflects TSMC's changed position and presence in the industry."