Driven by the growth of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, South Korea's semiconductor exports have reached an all-time high. The government plans to enhance industrial competitiveness through semiconductor mega-projects and support for materials, parts, and equipment (known as 소부장). As of September this year, semiconductor exports are nearing double last year's total.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will hold the 19th Semiconductor Day ceremony on October 21 at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas. The event will be attended by over 550 participants, including Deputy Minister Park Dong-il, semiconductor industry representatives, and individuals recognized for their contributions to industrial development.
Semiconductor Day was established to commemorate South Korea achieving $10 billion in semiconductor exports on October 29, 1994. This year marks the 19th celebration since the first event in 2008, and the South Korean semiconductor industry is setting new export records 32 years after the designation.
According to the ministry, semiconductor exports in September reached $60.3 billion, surpassing $60 billion for the first time in a month. This represents a 262.8% increase compared to the same month last year, driven by rising demand for memory semiconductors, which has led to increases in both export volume and prices.
From January to September this year, cumulative semiconductor exports totaled $340.3 billion, nearly double last year's annual total of $173.4 billion. This figure accounts for approximately 41.8% of the total exports of $814.5 billion during the same period.
The government attributes this export growth to increased demand for AI semiconductors and the technological development and investment by domestic companies. To ensure that the current semiconductor boom translates into stable long-term growth, the government plans to support large-scale investments and technological innovations.
During the ceremony, a total of 84 awards will be presented to individuals who have contributed to the development of the semiconductor industry. This includes 54 government awards and 30 private sector awards.
The highest honor, the Gold Tower Industrial Medal, will be awarded to Lee Jun-hyuk, chairman of Dongjin Semichem, for his contributions to overcoming the crisis posed by Japan's export restrictions, localizing key semiconductor materials, and securing advanced technologies.
The Silver Tower Industrial Medal will be awarded to Lee Jong-myung, vice president of Samsung Electronics. The Bronze Tower Industrial Medal will go to Kwon Jae-soon, vice president of SK Hynix, and Kim Young-boo, chairman of QRT. Additionally, industrial awards will be presented to Jang Seong-soo, president of Comico, Cha Byeong-deok, executive director of Seongdo ENG, and Park Kwang-seon, representative of Applied Materials Korea. There will also be three presidential citations, four prime ministerial citations, and 40 ministerial citations awarded.
The ministry aims to enhance the technological competitiveness of the semiconductor industry while fostering an ecosystem where large corporations and small to medium-sized enterprises can grow together. Plans include supporting inter-company technological cooperation and supply chain competitiveness through initiatives like the On-Device AI and the 'Growth Together Project,' as well as the Trinity Fab, a facility for supporting semiconductor materials, parts, and equipment. Furthermore, the government plans to promote support across the industry based on the Semiconductor Special Act.
Deputy Minister Park Jung-sung stated, "The key to global semiconductor competition lies in securing technology and executing investments swiftly. It will be determined by who secures technology first and executes investments faster, so we will actively support our companies' investments and technological innovations through semiconductor mega-projects."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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