三星與SK海力士砸2,000兆韓元蓋晶圓廠!未來10年豪賭半導體,光州成最大贏家

Samsung and SK Group are preparing to invest 2,000 trillion won (approximately $1.3 trillion) over the next decade to build a semiconductor mega-cluster in western South Korea. (Previous Summary: DRAM ready to surge! Samsung strike vote ends, why buy gold when you can buy memory?) (Background: GraniteShares to launch first US-listed "SK Hynix 2x Leveraged ETF," ticker $SKUU revealed)

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  • Investment Distribution: Three hubs in Gwangju, South Chungcheong, and North Chungcheong
  • South Korea's Stock Market Logic: "Fall first, rise later"
  • Taiwan Perspective: Same semiconductor bet, different factories
  • Timeline and Industry Impact

Samsung Group and SK Group are about to announce a massive investment plan—over the next decade, the two companies will jointly invest up to 2,000 trillion won (approximately $1.3 trillion) in South Korea to massively expand semiconductor manufacturing capacity.

This investment scale sets a record for South Korean corporate history and is a core pillar of President Lee Jae-myung's flagship industrial strategy. The Korea Economic Daily first reported on June 29, 2026, that the two giants will each build four to five semiconductor factories in the Gwangju area, creating a "semiconductor mega-cluster" on the western side of the Korean Peninsula.

Investment Distribution: Three hubs in Gwangju, South Chungcheong, and North Chungcheong

According to the report, the investment deployment of the two giants is as follows:

  • Samsung Electronics: 4-5 wafer fabs in Gwangju, packaging plant in South Chungcheong
  • SK Hynix: 4-5 wafer fabs in Gwangju, NAND expansion in North Chungcheong

Gwangju becoming a battleground for both giants means that the region will see an unprecedented expansion of semiconductor capacity over the next decade. Analysts point out that Gwangju's unique geographical location and government subsidy policies make it the core hub of South Korea's western semiconductor corridor.

South Korea's Stock Market Logic: "Fall first, rise later"

On the eve of the investment announcement, the KOSPI composite index fell more than 3%, with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix dropping about 5% and 4.5%, respectively. Market interpretation: "Large-scale investment plans signal capacity expansion, and increased short-term capital expenditure will weigh on profits." However, Seoul-based NH Investment & Securities noted that the beneficiaries of this investment are not limited to semiconductors themselves—specialized power equipment, grid infrastructure, and construction engineering—these three industry chains will directly benefit.

Eugene Securities analyst Huh Jae-Hwan said: "The core issue with South Korea's domestic stock market is the lack of competitive alternative tracks besides semiconductors. This large-scale industrial project exactly fills that gap." As of now, the KOSPI has risen about 93% this year.

Taiwan Perspective: Same semiconductor bet, different factories

Taiwan's semiconductor industry is also in a capacity expansion cycle. TSMC's 2026 capital expenditure reaches NT$1.6 trillion (approximately $51 billion). The individual ten-year investments of Samsung and SK Hynix of 1,000 trillion won (about $65 billion each) are already approaching TSMC's total investment over five years. If combined, the total of 2,000 trillion won even surpasses TSMC's ten-year investment plan.

This reflects the competitive logic of the global memory market—Samsung and SK Hynix together account for over 70% of global DRAM market share and over 50% of NAND market share. Maintaining the lead requires sustained capital expenditure. This "hundred-billion-dollar level" investment plan also means that the two companies will concentrate more resources on advanced processes and HBM (High Bandwidth Memory).

Timeline and Industry Impact

The timing of this investment plan announcement is noteworthy—June 29 is on the eve of the Sintra Forum where four major central banks (Fed, ECB, BOE, BOC) gather, drawing global market focus. Samsung and SK Group chose this moment to announce, consciously linking South Korea's semiconductor expansion with global monetary policy narratives.

For Taiwanese investors, this also provides an entry point to observe South Korea's semiconductor supply chain. The construction of new fabs in Gwangju and Chungcheong provinces means that demand for construction engineering, equipment installation, and power infrastructure will surge over the next two to three years. If Taiwanese equipment suppliers can enter the supply chain, this wave of investment is a tangible boon.

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