Song Jaehyuk Appointed as 14th Chairman of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association
"AI Opens New Opportunities While Disrupting Existing Paradigms"
"Korea Overcame Baseball Powerhouses; The Same Spirit Needed in Semiconductors"
Song Jae-hyuk, the newly elected chairman of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Samsung Electronics' Device Solutions (DS) division, likened the strategy for our semiconductor industry to survive in global competition to a "baseball game." Just as in baseball, where teams face countries with superior skills by employing various tactics such as stealing bases, sacrifice bunts, and sacrifice flies to secure victory, he emphasized that similar technological innovation is necessary in the semiconductor industry.
From the left, Song Jae-hyuk, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Samsung Electronics DS (Device Solutions) Division, and Kwak No-jung, President of SK Hynix, are having a conversation on the morning of the 5th at the DoubleTree by Hilton Pangyo in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, during the '2025 Korea Semiconductor Industry Association and Research Consortium Annual General Meeting.' Photo by Jang Hee-jun
On the morning of the 5th, Song Jae-hyuk was elected as the 14th chairman of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association at the '2025 Korea Semiconductor Industry Association and Research Consortium General Assembly' held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Pangyo in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. He stated, "The essence of the semiconductor industry ultimately lies in technological innovation," adding, "To lead the future market, innovative research and development (R&D) that surpasses existing technologies is essential, and we must strengthen the industrial ecosystem to support this."
Song viewed the uncertainties in the global supply chain and the development of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry as both new opportunities and risk factors. He diagnosed, "Amid rapidly changing technological innovations and complex global circumstances, Korean semiconductors face significant challenges. The advancement of AI technology has created new opportunities across the semiconductor industry, but at the same time, the existing paradigms we relied on are being greatly shaken."
He particularly emphasized, "Now, competition in the semiconductor industry cannot be overcome by the strength of individual companies alone," and added, "We must move together as one team, like 'Team Korea'." He pledged that the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association will serve as a connecting link among companies to enhance the competitiveness of Korean semiconductors on the global stage.
He continued, "In the past, we witnessed how our country, facing baseball powerhouses like the United States and Japan with a baseball industry base 100 times larger, managed to win by sending runners, stealing an extra base, and executing sacrifice bunts," and said, "The semiconductor industry must also lead future technological development and innovation with the spirit of Team Korea."
Song Jae-hyuk, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Samsung Electronics DS (Device Solutions) Division, is delivering his inaugural speech after being elected as the 14th Chairman of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association at the '2025 Korea Semiconductor Industry Association and Research Consortium General Assembly' held on the morning of the 5th at DoubleTree by Hilton Pangyo in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Jang Hee-jun
The chairmanship of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association has traditionally rotated among top executives from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix since its first chairman, Kim Kwang-ho (former chairman of Samsung Electronics Cable), in 1991. By convention, Jeon Young-hyun, Vice Chairman and head of Samsung Electronics' DS division, was expected to assume the new chairmanship, but Song took over the baton. It appears that Jeon faced a heavy burden due to his multiple roles, including head of the Memory Business Division, CEO of Samsung Electronics, and president of SAIT (formerly Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology).
At the general assembly, the 12th executive team of the association was newly formed. Thirty-eight executives from various fields such as semiconductor materials, components, equipment, and design were appointed, including Song Hyun-jong, president of SK Hynix, and Cho Ki-seok, CEO of DB HiTek. The association plans to focus on responding to rapidly changing external environments. This year’s major business plans include expanding semiconductor investment, responding to international trade issues, and fostering talent.
Meanwhile, Kwak No-jung, president of SK Hynix, who completed his three-year term as chairman that day, reflected on the Korean semiconductor industry's turbulent period and stressed, "We must strive not to lose global leadership even amid the turmoil." Kwak said, "Over the past three years, our semiconductor industry has experienced upheavals such as the COVID-19 pandemic and an unprecedented downturn," urging flexible responses and technological innovation to maintain the status of K-semiconductors.
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