South Korea Plans to Invest 4.5 Trillion Won in 40nm Wafer Fab

On February 11, 2026, South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced at a symposium on the growth strategy of core AI semiconductor companies that it plans to invest 4.5 trillion won (approximately 21.6 billion yuan) to build a 12-inch 40nm wafer fab. This investment aims to address the shortage of foundry capacity for domestic fabless companies and support their R&D and commercialization. Simultaneously, the government will collaborate with Samsung Foundry to provide IP sharing and MPW services, establish a 2 trillion won (approximately 9.6 billion yuan) special account, invest 1 trillion won (approximately 4.8 billion yuan) over the next five years to promote AI semiconductor development, and cultivate professional talent outside the Seoul metropolitan area, comprehensively strengthening the competitiveness of the semiconductor industry.