ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet visited South Korea to mark the opening of the company's new campus in Dongtan, Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi-do province. The facility is designed to accelerate cooperation with local semiconductor giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix on next-generation technologies.
The new ASML campus in Hwaseong represents an investment of approximately KRW240 billion (US$164.92 million), according to reports from Yonhap News Agency and Hankyung, as well as information from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE). The inauguration ceremony was attended by Fouquet, the Dutch ambassador to South Korea, MOTIE officials, and representatives from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. This visit marked Fouquet's first to South Korea since becoming CEO in April 2025.
The newly completed campus spans about 16,000 square meters and includes a parts remanufacturing center for both deep ultraviolet (DUV) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, as well as a technical training center focused on workforce development and knowledge transfer. Industry insiders expect the facility to become a central hub for ASML's operations in Asia and contribute to South Korea's semiconductor supply chain stability and technological self-reliance.
New campus to enhance local semiconductor ecosystem
ASML has stated that this campus will deepen technology exchanges with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, particularly related to semiconductor process technologies. The company is also aiming to foster an interconnected ecosystem involving local suppliers of materials, components, and equipment, describing this approach as a "symbiotic cooperation model" with the South Korean semiconductor industry.
The presence of CEO Fouquet at the inauguration suggests potential strategic discussions with Lee Jae-yong, chairman of Samsung Electronics, and Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group. Experts expect these talks to influence ongoing joint projects, including an advanced semiconductor R&D center planned by ASML and Samsung Electronics. The center, backed by an investment of EUR700 million (US$809.34 million), will feature dedicated EUV research laboratories and production lines designed to co-develop future-generation semiconductor technologies. ASML and Samsung are currently finalizing site selection for this project, and Fouquet's visit is seen as a catalyst for accelerating its progress.
Article edited by Jerry Chen
