South Korea reportedly plans to launch a state-funded semiconductor foundry, Korea Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (KSMC), to challenge TSMC’s dominance. With an initial investment of $13.9 billion, KSMC aims to establish a balanced ecosystem of cutting-edge foundries and fabless manufacturers, potentially generating $208.7 billion in economic benefits by 2045. Industry experts suggest that KSMC’s focus on advanced and mature nodes could mirror Taiwan’s successful model, leveraging subsidies and tax credits to propel South Korea back to the top of the semiconductor industry by 2047. However, concerns remain about the feasibility of achieving cutting-edge technology leadership under state governance.
My Take
KSMC’s success is possible but hinges on overcoming significant challenges in funding, talent development, and ecosystem building—areas where government backing, agile R&D, and partnerships with global fabless companies will be critical.
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Link to article:
https://wccftech.com/ksmc-being-mulled-by-south-korea-to-take-on-tsmc-with-mammoth-investment/amp/
Credit: Wccftech, The Korea Bizwire
This post was enhanced with AI assistance, thoroughly reviewed, edited, and reflects my own thoughts.