Four US companies have agreed to invest a total of $2bn in South Korea, targeting semiconductor inputs, wafer-fab equipment, advanced materials and renewable power.
South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency secured the investment commitments at a declaration ceremony and investor roundtable in Washington yesterday (3 September), reported Seoul Economic Daily.
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The participating companies are Air Products, Axcelis Technologies, Corning and Pacifico Energy.
For South Korea, the commitments are aimed at reinforcing domestic production networks tied to the government’s flagship industrial developments and reducing reliance on external supply in strategic sectors.
Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency president Kang Kyung-sung said: “This investment carries significant meaning because it is directly linked to the semiconductor, AI data centre and physical AI sectors at the heart of the government’s three mega projects for a great leap forward for the Republic of Korea. We will continue to do our best to further expand investment in Korea by global advanced technology companies.”
Air Products will install gas supply facilities for a new semiconductor production base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul.
The project will cover ultra-pure gases required in chip fabrication, specialty rare gases used in high-precision processes and hydrogen, adding local capacity in essential semiconductor materials.
Axcelis Technologies plans to enlarge its ion implanter operations in Pyeongtaek.
Its South Korean site is the company’s only ion implanter manufacturing base outside the US. The expansion will also add engineering, prototype development and training capabilities, broadening the plant’s role beyond production.
Corning will modernise operations at its Asan facility in South Chungcheong Province by deploying newer manufacturing processes for advanced materials and upgrading existing lines.
The US group has operated in South Korea since 1973 and supplies materials used in displays and glass products.
Pacifico Energy is moving ahead with a 3.2GW offshore wind scheme near Jindo in South Jeolla Province.
The project is intended to help meet rising electricity demand from high-consumption industries, including artificial intelligence data centres.
