Closer look at strengths of S. Korean chipmakers amid expectations of trilateral tech cooperation

한미일 기술 협력 기대 속 빛나는 K-반도체의 힘 SK 하이닉스에서 들여다보다

As semiconductors and other high-technology likely to take center stage at Camp David, our Lee Shi-hoo looked around one of South Korea’s largest chipmaking sites to see what fosters the nation's breakthrough innovations.

"South Korea is a key producer of some of today's most advanced semiconductors, and here at SK hynix is where core R&D and production take place."

Welcome to the chipmaker’s headquarters in the city of Icheon, about 60 kilometers southeast of Seoul, housing the world's largest memory chips production plant.

“We develop and supply advanced products like the industry’s highest 321-layer NAND Flash product, which was recently unveiled. As for DRAMs, we are cooperating with global big-tech firms to come up with various applied products such as high-performance, high-capacity DDR5, mobile LPDDR, and High Bandwidth Memory.”

High Bandwidth Memory, used to power generative AI devices, has revolutionized data processing by stacking and connecting multiple DRAM chips like a building.
It's also taken South Korean chipmakers to new heights amid the growing demand for next-generation semiconductor products that support AI technology.

“We developed the world’s first generation HBM product back in 2013, and we’ve been leading the market since, developing and certifying next-generation products. With the market expected to grow drastically in years to come, I think the HBM will play an important role in our business."

And with discussions on technological cooperation between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan expected at the trilateral summit in Camp David, the ruling People Power Party Lawmaker Song Seog-jun, who represents the city of Icheon, says he looks forward to such cooperation.

"The U.S. has great strength in semiconductor design, Japan in materials, components and equipment, and South Korea in the production of semiconductors that utilize such technology.
With South Korea having leading firms such as SK hynix, I look forward to close trilateral cooperation in fostering talent, R&D, supply chains, investment and incentives."

An expert in digital strategy echoes the need for such partnership.

"It's very important to have that global cooperation to pursue the front-line technology in the semiconductor business together. Semiconductor industry requires tight cooperation in the supply chain to advance the economy and technology."

Now all eyes are on the three countries' next steps forward and the influence they will have on the global semiconductor industry.

Lee Shi-hoo, Arirang News, Icheon.

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2023-08-18, 18:00 (KST)