Samsung Electronics plans to start operating the first chip plant in its Yongin cluster, south of Seoul, in 2029, industry sources said.

That would bring the project forward by one year from the government’s publicly announced 2030 target and by up to two years from some earlier expectations.

The Yongin site is set to host six semiconductor plants under a national strategic project and would serve as an advanced system semiconductor hub.

An earlier launch would help Samsung respond faster to demand for AI chips. The revised timeline still depends on infrastructure development.

The cluster is estimated to need 15 to 16 gigawatts of electricity at full operation, compared with about 1.9 gigawatts currently available in Yongin.

Transmission line construction, land compensation, and local community opposition remain potential bottlenecks.

🔗 Source: The Korea Times