2655 trillion won, 2200 trillion won! Samsung and SK Hynix successively announced investment plans.

Two major South Korean tech giants announced record-breaking domestic investment plans on the same day, signaling a new phase in the global AI and semiconductor industry competition.

On June 29, Samsung Group and SK Group unveiled their investment blueprints at the "Three Major Super Projects for the Great Leap of the Republic of Korea National Report" hosted by South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. Samsung announced a total investment of 2,655 trillion won (approximately 11.68 trillion RMB), while SK Group plans to invest over 100 trillion won annually in South Korea for the next decade, with the AI data center and semiconductor supply expansion projects totaling approximately 2,200 trillion won (approximately 9.68 trillion RMB). The combined investment commitments from the two groups exceed 4,800 trillion won.

On the same day, the South Korean government announced its largest-ever semiconductor and AI industry investment plan, positioning semiconductors, physical AI, and AI data centers as the "three pillars" of South Korea's industrial upgrade, with the goal of doubling DRAM production capacity within five years and propelling South Korea into the ranks of "leading nations in the AI revolution."

Samsung: 2,655 trillion won covering semiconductors, AI, and new energy

According to the latest report from Yonhap News Agency, Samsung Group's investment plan centers on the Pyeongtaek and Yongin semiconductor clusters, while also significantly expanding into regional areas.

In terms of core semiconductor clusters, Samsung plans to invest 2,030 trillion won in semiconductor clusters including the Pyeongtaek complex and the Yongin National Industrial Complex, forming the main body of the overall plan.

In regional investments, Samsung announced an investment of 425 trillion won in the Honam (Jeolla) region, of which 400 trillion won is in the semiconductor sector. Samsung Electronics will build a new semiconductor wafer plant in Gwangju and establish a digital twin innovation hub; Samsung SDS will build an AI data center in Hainan Solaseado to deploy sovereign AI infrastructure; Samsung C&T will invest in solar power generation facilities, nuclear hydrogen production, and a green hydrogen R&D demonstration base in the Honam region.

In the Chungcheong region, Samsung plans to invest 140 trillion won, with key areas including HBM wafer plants, next-generation displays, next-generation batteries, and AI server packaging substrates. Among these, Samsung Electronics will invest 56 trillion won to build the most advanced HBM wafer plant in Cheonan and Onyang; Samsung Display will build production bases for foldable screens and other next-generation smartphone displays as well as ultra-high-resolution microdisplays in Asan; Samsung SDI will create a global mother plant for next-generation batteries in Cheonan; and Samsung Electro-Mechanics will build a state-of-the-art AI server packaging substrate production line in Sejong.

In the Yeongnam region, Samsung plans to invest 60 trillion won to promote the integration of core manufacturing with AI and robotics technology. Samsung Electronics will build a global manufacturing innovation hub for smartphones and a humanoid robot mass production line in Gumi, while Samsung SDS will simultaneously build an AI data center there; Samsung Electro-Mechanics will expand its MLCC and packaging substrate production capacity in Busan; Samsung SDI will expand investments in all-solid-state batteries and energy storage systems in Ulsan; and Samsung Heavy Industries will build a high-value-added shipbuilding base in Geoje.

SK Hynix: 2,200 trillion won betting on AI data centers and semiconductor expansion

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won stated at the report meeting that the group plans to invest approximately 1,000 trillion won in AI data center projects and approximately 1,100 trillion won in semiconductor supply expansion projects. "SK will continue to execute investments of over 100 trillion won annually domestically for the next 10 years."

In terms of AI data centers, SK Group, led by SK Telecom, plans to build an AI data center network with a total capacity of 15GW. The first phase will build a 5GW capacity center, distributed in units of 0.5 to 1GW across the country; the second phase will comprehensively consider power, land, and water resource conditions, gradually expanding to a capacity of 10GW. Chey Tae-won said the group's goal is to "export intelligence rather than products and build an 'intelligent market' domestically."

In terms of semiconductor expansion, SK Hynix will significantly advance the original timeline for capacity construction. Chey Tae-won announced that the Yongin cluster, originally scheduled to be completed in 2045, will be completed 12 years earlier; to expand DRAM capacity, approximately 600 trillion won will be invested early in Yongin; to expand NAND capacity, approximately 100 trillion won will be invested early in Cheongju.

In addition, to address the ongoing memory supply shortage, SK plans to build a new production base in the southwestern region, with an investment scale of approximately 400 trillion won. This region is considered capable of meeting comprehensive conditions such as large-scale land, power, water resources, and labor.

Risk Warning and Disclaimer

Market risks exist, and investment requires caution. This article does not constitute personal investment advice and does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial circumstances, or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article are suitable for their specific situation. Investment based on this is at your own risk.