Samsung and ASML Announce $760 Million Investment in Advanced Chip Plant in South Korea

Samsung Electronics and ASML, a Dutch chip-making equipment manufacturer, will jointly invest $760 million to build a cutting-edge semiconductor processing plant in South Korea. The investment aims to develop advanced chip technology and forge a "semiconductor alliance" between the two countries. ASML is the world's only producer of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, crucial for manufacturing advanced chips. South Korean chipmakers, including Samsung and SK Hynix, rely on ASML's technology. The collaboration also aims to reduce power usage and costs for EUV machines through hydrogen gas recycling technology. The partnership is seen as a crucial turning point for the Korea-Netherlands semiconductor alliance amid growing geopolitical risks surrounding global supply chains.