Samsung accelerates opening of Yongin semiconductor fab to 2029 to meet AI chip demand

Samsung Electronics will bring forward the start of operations at the first semiconductor fabrication plant in its Yongin National Industrial Complex to 2029, moving the schedule up by one to two years from the original 2030‑31 target. The acceleration is part of a national strategic project to develop the Yongin industrial park as a next‑generation semiconductor hub, with six fabs planned for the site.

Industry sources say site development will begin in the second half of 2026. Samsung’s broader investment plan includes roughly 2,030 trillion won (about US$1.35 trillion) for the Yongin and Pyeongtaek clusters, plus an additional 400 trillion won for two new plants in Gwangju. Together with SK Group, Samsung has pledged a combined 896 trillion won (around US$578 billion) for semiconductor expansion in the southwest region. The rushed timeline is intended to help Samsung respond more quickly to the rapidly growing global demand for artificial‑intelligence chips.