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| ASML CEO Peter Wennink speaks during a press conference at InterContinental Seoul COEX, Tuesday. Yonhap |
By Park Jae-hyuk
ASML, a Dutch semiconductor equipment firm known as the world's sole producer of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, will start the construction of its repair center and engineer training center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday, by investing 240 billion won ($182 million) until 2025, according to the industry ministry, Tuesday.
Once the construction is finished, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are expected to enhance their competitiveness in the global market, because they will rely less on parts shipped from the Netherlands for repairs and maintenance.
Amid the fierce rivalry with Taiwan's TSMC and other foreign chipmakers, the Korean semiconductor manufacturers are also likely to boost their ties with the Dutch firm.
ASML CEO Peter Wennink, who came to Korea to attend Wednesday's groundbreaking ceremony with the Korean government and semiconductor industry officials, also hinted at similar sentiments at his forthcoming meeting with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong during his stay. They met in June when Lee visited ASML's headquarters in the Netherlands.
During Tuesday's press conference in Seoul, Wennink told reporters that he and his colleagues have always met with their clients, in response to a question about whether he plans to meet with Lee.
He also said "it is critical" to closely collaborate with local customers, at a time when "the technical complexity (of chipmaking) goes up." The ASML CEO added that "having a training center here" is also "very important because it will help bring the technology closer to the customers."
Given that ASML seeks to increase its R&D in Korea with the aim of hiring an additional 1,400 employees here over the next 10 years, the Dutch firm is also expected to open an R&D center and a manufacturing facility in the Korean market in years ahead.
Wennink said that building a Korean supply base "is a significant opportunity" for his company to grow further.
Regarding his outlook for the global semiconductor market, the CEO told reporters that the industry will face difficulties from the risk of a global recession temporarily next year. However, he expressed confidence that the industry will show 9-percent annual growth on average over the next decade.
"The demand for our products is still higher than what we can make," he said. "Our customers must believe the duration of the recession is shorter than the average lead time for our machines."
He also said his company plans to launch the High-NA EUV in 2024, expecting the equipment to be priced at around 300 million euros ($310 million).
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