Industry

  • SK hynix suffers huge operating loss due to slumping memory chip business
    SK hynix suffers huge operating loss due to slumping memory chip business SEOUL -- SK hynix, the world’s second-largest memory chip producer, suffered an operating loss of 1.7 trillion won ($1.37 billion) in the fourth quarter of last year, driven by sagging global demand amid an economic slowdown, the company said February 1. It marked the first time since the third quarter of 2012 that the company has posted an operating loss. The loss was in stark contrast to a profit of 4.21 trillion won in the last quarter of 2021. The company’s sales nosedived 3 February 1, 2023
  • Falling semiconductor exports to take toll on economic growth
    Falling semiconductor exports to take toll on economic growth SEOUL -- Falling exports of semiconductors are likely to lower the country’s economic growth to as low as 1 percent this year, according to a report released on January 25 by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). The report predicted that if semiconductor exports decline 10 percent, the economic growth rate will drop by 0.64 percentage point. It also said that the growth rate will decrease further by 1.27 percentage points if semiconductor exports fall 20 percent. The KCCI January 25, 2023
  • ASML breaks ground for lithography cluster in S. Korea
    ASML breaks ground for lithography cluster in S. Korea SEOUL -- The construction of ASML Holding N.V.'s lithography cluster began after the Dutch manufacturer of crucial chip-making equipment pledged close cooperation with South Korean semiconductor companies which have expanded their investment to cement their top position in memory chip production and enhance their competitive power in the global foundry market. ASML CEO Peter Wennink hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on November 16 in Hwaseong, about 30 kilometers (18 miles) southwest of Seou November 16, 2022
  • Construction begins for U.S company onsemis research center for SiC power semiconductors
    Construction begins for U.S company onsemi's research center for SiC power semiconductors SEOUL -- U.S semiconductor supplier company onsemi broke ground for a research center in South Korea to develop and produce next-generation silicon and carbide (SiC) power semiconductors, which are emerging as a key component of electric vehicles, with an injection of 1.4 trillion won ($1.08 billion) by 2025. onsemi's research center will be located in Bucheon, a city in Gyeonggi Province, which is about 25 kilometers (16 miles) away from Seoul. Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim dong-yeon July 7, 2022
  • SK materials and Japanese partner consider joint entry into U.S. semiconductor material market
    SK materials and Japanese partner consider joint entry into U.S. semiconductor material market SEOUL -- SK materials, a major special gas producer in South Korea, and its Japanese partner, Showa Denko, proposed the idea of making their joint entry into the U.S. semiconductor material market, pointing to growing demands caused by a U.S. government campaign to strengthen domestic capabilities in manufacturing high-tech technologies. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding at the head office of Showa Denko on June 29 to consider entering North America with semiconductor mater June 29, 2022
  • Doosan Group makes new investment to nurture semiconductor unit as global player
    Doosan Group makes new investment to nurture semiconductor unit as global player SEOUL -- South Korea's Doosan Group will inject some one trillion won ($774 million) into its newly acquired semiconductor test service company to nurture it as one of the world's top five players within five years. The investment was disclosed during Doosan Group chairman Park Jeong-won's trip to the factory of Doosan Tesna in Anseong, 45 kilometers (28 miles) south of Seoul. Doosan Tesna will build a new plant for completion in late 2024 as part of efforts to expand its semiconduc June 15, 2022
  • Samsung Electronics ties up with Red Hat to develop technologies for next-generation memory solutions
    Samsung Electronics ties up with Red Hat to develop technologies for next-generation memory solutions SEOUL -- Samsung Electronics tied up with Red Hat, a U.S. provider of open-source software products, to develop technologies for next-generation memory solutions, reflecting its strategy to change its memory paradigm beyond simple semiconductor manufacturing to a total memory solution company. Memory software solutions enable multiple memories to be recognized and operated as one or more efficient use of memory performance. The partnership will focus on the development and validation of open s May 25, 2022
  • SK Inc. makes additional investment to acquires domestic SiC power semiconductor producer
    SK Inc. makes additional investment to acquires domestic SiC power semiconductor producer SEOUL -- As part of a group-wide campaign to strengthen its battery-related business, SK Inc., an investment-oriented holding company of South Korea's third-largest conglomerate SK Group, will acquire Yes Powertechnix, the only domestic producer of power semiconductors based on a component of silicon and carbide (SiC), which are emerging as a key component of electric vehicles. Through the additional injection of about 120 billion won ($95 million), SK Inc. said it would acquire 95.8 percen April 27, 2022
  • Doosan Group acquires controlling stake in semiconductor test service provider
    Doosan Group acquires controlling stake in semiconductor test service provider SEOUL -- South Korea's Doosan Group expanded its business scope into semiconductors by acquiring a controlling 38.7 percent stake in Tesna, a domestic semiconductor test service provider, saying that demands for semiconductors will grow in line with the rapid introduction of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, electric vehicles and autonomous driving. The acquisition of Tesna for 460 billion won ($372.6 million) is aimed at securing a new growth engine, the grou March 8, 2022
  • LG Innotek makes new investment to produce high-intensity package substrates
    LG Innotek makes new investment to produce high-intensity package substrates SEOUL -- LG Innotek, the electric component unit of South Korea's LG Group, has earmarked 413 billion won ($346 million) for its new investment to build a mass production line for flip-chip ball grid arrays, a high-intensity package substrate connecting semiconductor chips and main substrates. Flip-chip ball grid arrays are in demand for various applications such as servers and networks. Flip-chip ball grid arrays (FC-BGAs) are mainly used for central processing units (CPUs) and graphic pro February 23, 2022