Lam Research Expands Investment in South Korea's Semiconductor Ecosystem... Ships 15,000th Chamber
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Lam Research said on the 8th in Seoul that it would expand manufacturing and supply chain collaboration with South Korea's semiconductor ecosystem after holding its first
Lam Research said on the 8th that it will expand manufacturing and supply chain collaboration with South Korea's semiconductor ecosystem. The company held its first "Lam Research Supplier Symposium Korea" in Seoul that day and announced its achievements and plans to further expand cooperation going forward. The article's headline is "Ships 15,000th Chamber."
Domestic partners, customers, suppliers and government officials attended the event. The theme was "Building Resilient Partnerships in the AI Era." Through the symposium, Lam Research outlined its collaboration achievements with South Korea's semiconductor ecosystem and said it plans to further broaden ties between manufacturing and the supply chain going forward.
The event discussed ways to stabilize the supply chain and strengthen ecosystem cooperation to support growth in the next-generation semiconductor industry. The discussion was based on the view that the importance of supply chain stability and ecosystem cooperation is increasing as AI spreads, driving up demand and adding to technological complexity.
Tim Archer, chairman and CEO of Lam Research, said the company has continuously invested over the past 40-plus years based on the competitiveness and collaborative culture of South Korea's semiconductor ecosystem. He explained that in the AI Era, demand growth and rising technological complexity are continuing. He added that the importance of how quickly the ecosystem can solve problems and its ability to apply new technologies to mass production is becoming even greater.
An unidentified speaker said the company would pursue closer cooperation to meet customers' pace of demand and realize the innovation the industry needs.
Lam Research is the largest front-end semiconductor equipment manufacturer and the largest exporter of wafer fabrication equipment in South Korea. The company has continued expanding its manufacturing capabilities in the country, and the shipment in question is its 15,000th chamber.
This 15,000th chamber marks the result of Lam Research's 15 years of manufacturing activity in South Korea. Lam Research has production facilities in Osan, Hwaseong and Yongin in Gyeonggi Province, and the three sites produce semiconductor manufacturing equipment used in key processes such as deposition and etching.
Lam Research supports customers in advanced semiconductor manufacturing with atomic-level precision. It is also strengthening domestic and overseas supply chain cooperation to operate its Korea global manufacturing hub stably, and it has built a supply chain network with about 100 domestic companies. Many of the companies participating in this supply chain network are small and medium-sized businesses.
Domestic partners supply specialized components and materials for Lam Research's global production bases, including those in South Korea. This use of the domestic supply chain is presented as a way to reduce reliance on long-distance logistics and ease the risk of global supply chain disruptions.
Lam Research sourced more than KRW 1 trillion worth of products and services from domestic partners last year. That procurement helped strengthen domestic manufacturing and also bolster support for global customers.
Domestic partners take part in joint engineering projects with Lam Research and also participate in quality management programs. They are also involved in the global supply chain, and these activities are laying the groundwork to strengthen the technical capabilities of domestic partners and expand business opportunities.
Lam Research is expanding its supply chain network across multiple regions in South Korea. The country's existing semiconductor industrial clusters are concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area, and Lam Research's strategy is focused on broadening its supply base by working with more regional companies beyond the capital area. In addition, Lam Research is pursuing investment to foster next-generation innovation companies in South Korea's semiconductor ecosystem, and Hana Ventures and Lam Capital jointly established the "Lam Research-Hana Semiconductor Unicorn Fund." Lam Capital is Lam Research's corporate venture capital organization.
The fund is Lam Research's first national-level strategic semiconductor investment program. It was created to identify and invest in domestic startups and new technology companies and to support business expansion. Beyond capital investment, it is operated in a way that connects Lam Research's industry expertise and collaboration opportunities.
Support focuses on key technology areas for the future semiconductor industry. Priority areas include manufacturing AI, robotics, advanced packaging and new materials. The scope of support covers technology validation, commercialization and entry into global markets.
Lam Research operates the Lam Research Korea Technology Center in South Korea. It recently built Velocity Lab. The facility is used to quickly verify new materials and also serves a role in co-developing innovative ideas with customers, partners and suppliers.
Since establishing its first office in South Korea in 1989, Lam Research has expanded its business foundation in the country across R&D, manufacturing, supply chain cooperation and talent development. According to Lam Research, the economic impact of its South Korea business as of 2025 is more than KRW 13 trillion. Lam Research also said its contribution to creating direct and indirect jobs as of 2025 is more than 25,000.
Kim Sung-won, chair of the National Assembly's Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee, said the semiconductor industry is a key sector driving the Korean economy and an important foundation of national competitiveness. Kim said Lam Research has continuously invested and cooperated to help develop South Korea's semiconductor ecosystem across R&D, manufacturing, supply chain cooperation and talent development.
Kim expressed gratitude to Lam Research for these efforts. He said Lam Research has continued its investment and cooperation across South Korea's semiconductor ecosystem.
Lee Chesu, CEO of Texon, said Texon and Lam Research have maintained a close relationship based on trust for a long time. He added that through collaboration with Lam Research, the company has improved its technological capabilities and driven business growth, and that Texon and Lam Research are contributing together to the development of the global semiconductor ecosystem. Cho Joon, vice president of Dongwon Parts, said Lam Research is a reliable partner that has pursued innovation and stronger operational competitiveness together. He added that collaboration with Lam Research has been a great help in finding new business opportunities and improving competitiveness, and that it has played an important role in responding to the rapidly changing semiconductor industry environment.
Source: TECHWORLD · Park Gyu-chan
Original: https://www.epnc.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=407944
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Source: TECHWORLD
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