President Yoon Suk Yeol on Dec. 12 takes a photo in front of ASML’s headquarters in the town of Veldhoven, the Netherlands, during his state visit to the European country. From left are Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Dutch King Willem-Alexander, President Yoon, ASML CEO Peter Wennink and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won. (Kim Yong Wii from Office of the President)
By Kim Hyelin
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Dec. 12 pledged support for semiconductor cooperation with the Netherlands during his state visit to the European country.
The Office of the President said President Yoon that day visited the headquarters of ASML, a Dutch maker of key chip equipment, in the town of Veldhoven with Dutch King Willem-Alexander, Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won. The president also held a meeting with leading semiconductor companies and organizations in Korea, the Netherlands and Europe.
ASML is the world’s exclusive producer of extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) equipment, which is essential for ultra-precision manufacturing of chips.
In his opening speech at the meeting, President Yoon said, “We look forward to close cooperation with Korean companies to innovate the semiconductor industry and stabilize the global supply chain.”
“In Korea, Samsung Electronics is investing KRW 360 trillion and SK Hynix KRW 120 trillion to create the world’s largest semiconductor cluster under the government’s strategy of becoming a semiconductor superpower.”
“I am very pleased with today’s investment cooperation among ASML, Samsung and SK Hynix,” he added. “ASML and Samsung will invest KRW 1 trillion to open an R&D center in Korea for next-generation chip production technology, while ASML and Hynix will jointly develop a green process that dramatically cuts power consumption in the semiconductor production process and recycles resources such as hydrogen.”
“With ASML at the helm, a cutting-edge semiconductor academy between Korea and the Netherlands will be opened in February next year with graduate students and engineers from both countries participating.”
“The Korean government will boost direct communication channels between the governments of both countries and provide all necessary support to ensure the success of this cooperation project.”
After the meeting, both countries signed three memorandums of understanding on semiconductors. President Yoon then visited ASML’s “cleanroom,” the first foreign head of state to do so, to inspect the manufacturing of the latest EUV equipment.
President Yoon, on a state visit to the Netherlands, on Dec. 12 signs a semiconductor wafer with Dutch King Willem-Alexander before heading to their bilateral talks during his visit to ASML headquarters in the Dutch town of Veldhoven. (Jeon Han)
kimhyelin211@korea.kr
