Samsung fast-tracks AI chip Fab to 2029 as SK Hynix rides Nasdaq debut

Samsung is accelerating the rollout of its next-generation chip production, bringing forward the opening of its massive Yongin semiconductor plant to 2029—one to two years earlier than originally planned. And it also follows the South Korean government’s push to fast-track strategic semiconductor projects and speed up construction at the site.

Samsung plans to finish the construction of the Yongin cluster by 2040

Samsung’s urgency is closely tied to its ambitions for AI dominance. Under last month’s government partnership, the tech giant earmarked roughly $1.4 trillion for Pyeongtaek and Yongin, with another $266.9 billion slated for the Honam area. 

The company’s planners have now compressed the entire Yongin cluster’s construction schedule, aiming to finish in 2040 rather than 2047. It intends to complete the construction of the first of the planned six semiconductor plants by 2029.

Market experts have noted that an early schedule does more than just increase output; it will naturally clear the path for future projects to finish ahead of schedule.

An industry official commented: “An earlier start of operations at the first plant will enable Samsung to respond more quickly to rapidly growing global demand for artificial intelligence chips.”

State authorities will support Samsung’s accelerated expansion by fast-tracking approvals for land acquisitions and contractor assignments. The government is also moving up utility schedules. It is looking to build a 3 GW LNG power plant early and shorten the rollout periods for the next phases of water and electricity hookups. 

Speaking on the government’s plans, one industry analyst even noted, “If the government’s infrastructure support measures are implemented as planned, the possibility of operation in 2029 is very high. As electricity and water are areas that a company cannot resolve on its own, close public-private cooperation will determine the success or failure.”

SK Hynix shares slid 8.4% in Seoul after the Nasdaq-debut

Meanwhile, shares of SK Hynix recently debuted on the tech-heavy Nasdaq. U.S. markets showed strong enthusiasm for the chipmaker, driving the opening price to $170 from its $149 listing price. Overall, the shares rose 15% in the Friday trading session. However, as of Monday, the shares have dropped in Seoul. 

The chipmaker’s shares slid 8.4% at home, pulling down the main Kospi index. Kyobo Life Insurance’s Jason Minsang Kam even contended that because the U.S. momentum has already been factored into the price, investors should anticipate significant pressure from intraday profit-taking and arbitrage unwinding. Even so, the listing has put the company on the radar of global investors as it supplies high-bandwidth memory used in Nvidia Corp.’s AI chips. CEO Kwak Noh-jung even expects customer demand to outpace the company’s production capacity until after 2030.

Nevertheless, the firm, like Samsung, is also investing in building more semiconductor plants across the country. It plans to commit about $734.0 billion to its expansion. About  $400.3 billion will fund four new Yongin facilities, alongside a major schedule shift that moves full completion up by 12 years to 2033.

Moreover, the company plans to invest about $66.7 billion in the Cheongju campus to increase NAND flash memory production. It will also invest about ₩400 trillion (approximately $266.9 billion) to develop a new semiconductor cluster in southwestern South Korea. 

If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter.