South Korea is accelerating a bold industrial push, with its leading memory chip makers and major tech groups committing more than $900 billion toward semiconductors, AI data centers, and related infrastructure.
New fabs, packaging, and AI hubs
Samsung and SK Hynix plan to back four new memory fabs in southwestern South Korea with an investment of about $518 billion, a region that has received relatively little semiconductor spending until now. The package also includes $52 billion for a high-bandwidth memory packaging hub in the central part of the country.
In parallel, Korean tech and energy companies including SK, GS, and Naver are set to channel another $356 billion into AI data centers through 2035. Together, these projects are designed to strengthen the country's position in the fast-growing AI supply chain.
A wider national strategy
At a presidential briefing, President Lee Jae Myung described semiconductors, physical AI, and AI data centers as the three pillars of South Korea's next industrial phase. He also said existing chip clusters near Yongin and Pyeongtaek are nearing capacity, making expansion into the southwest a strategic priority.
Samsung separately outlined a decade-long investment plan worth 2,655 trillion won, including major spending in the Honam region. The company highlighted infrastructure readiness, workforce conditions, and utility access as key reasons for selecting Gwangju for a new semiconductor fab and Haenam for an AI data center.
SK Group also shared a long-term roadmap of 2,100 trillion won, split between semiconductor capacity and nationwide AI data center development. SK Telecom is expected to lead a large-scale buildout of AI infrastructure across the country.
As global demand for memory chips continues to rise alongside AI expansion, South Korea is positioning itself for a larger role in the next wave of digital industry. If delivered as planned, this investment cycle could reshape the country's innovation map for years to come.