SEOUL, South Korea ─ February 19, 2025 ─ SEMICON Korea 2025 opens today in Seoul at the COEX spotlighting major trends shaping the semiconductor industry's future, from artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced packaging to sustainable manufacturing. AI and smart devices are transforming industries and everyday life. As this shift accelerates, the key challenge is establishing a competitive technological “edge” to drive the next wave of innovation.
As the region’s leading microelectronics event, SEMICON Korea 2025 is set to welcome a record 70,000 attendees, with 500 companies presenting cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing technologies. The event will feature 30 technology and business conferences, bringing together over 200 industry visionaries and experts as speakers, and providing key opportunities for networking and fostering new collaborations.
South Korea’s role in the global semiconductor industry continues to grow in importance, driven by its leading chipmakers—Samsung Electronics and SK hynix—and its robust supply chain of equipment, materials, and components. As semiconductor companies worldwide increasingly collaborate to address technology challenges—such as chip scaling, advanced packaging, new materials, generative AI and other data-intensive applications—South Korea’s strategic position becomes even more vital. SEMICON Korea will serve as a central platform for fostering innovation and forging new partnerships across the global semiconductor ecosystem.
- Jaihyuk Song, Corporate President and CTO, Samsung: “Semiconductor Innovation for a Better Life”
- Luc Van den hove, President and CEO, imec: “The Versatile Future of Semiconductor Systems”
- Bill En, Corporate Vice President Engineering, AMD: “Demand for Power Efficiency in the Age of AI”
- Ravi Subramanian, Chief Product Management Officer, Product Management and Markets Group, Synopsys: “Powering Innovation in the Era of Pervasive Intelligence”
- Prabu Raja, President, General Manager, Semiconductor Products Group, Applied Materials: “Accelerating Energy-Efficient Semiconductors through Collaborative Innovation”
Key Highlights of SEMICON Korea 2025
Technology Conferences
- SEMI Technology Symposium (STS): Industry experts will share advanced technology trends in six semiconductor manufacturing processes:
- CMP & Cleaning
- Device Technology
- Etch
- Lithography
- Materials
- Packaging
Technology & Market Conferences: Key discussions will focus on market trends, sustainability, smart manufacturing, semiconductor testing, metrology and inspection, cybersecurity, and compound power semiconductors. Featured sessions include:
Technology Forums
- Compound Power Semiconductor Summit: Industry visionaries will present the latest trends and forecasts for SiC, GaN, and Diamond WBG power semiconductors.
- Cybersecurity Forum: Experts will discuss robust, standards-based cybersecurity frameworks to enhance supply chain security.
- Market Trends Forum: Leading research institutions and consulting firms will analyze global semiconductor market dynamics.
- Metrology and Inspection Forum: Industry pioneers will unveil breakthrough innovations in metrology and inspection.
- Smart Manufacturing Forum: Experts will explore digital twin technology, AI-driven manufacturing and multimodal technologies revolutionizing semiconductor production.
- Test Forum: Speakers will outline cutting-edge testing technologies required for AI-era semiconductor innovation and advanced packaging solutions.
Business Forums
- Market Trends Forum: Hear the latest insights on the global economic outlook, including the impact of AI on the semiconductor market, from SEMI, semiconductor research institutions, and consulting firms.
- U.S Investment Forum: A high-profile discussion on industry policies, CHIPS Act updates, and workforce development initiatives, featuring representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce and state officials from Arizona, Indiana, New York and Texas.
- Vietnam Investment Forum: A comprehensive overview of investment prospects in Vietnam, a rising hub for semiconductor production, aimed at facilitating collaborations with Korean companies.
- Netherlands-Korea Semiconductor R&D Cooperation Seminar: A dedicated platform for fostering partnerships between Dutch technology firms, investors, and Korean enterprises.
- Supplier Search Program: Targeted networking opportunities to support domestic semiconductor materials, components, and equipment companies expanding into global markets. Industry leaders such as Applied Materials, GlobalFoundries, Kioxia, and Micron will participate in approximately 100 business meetings with Korean companies.
Sustainability Programs
- Sustainability Forum: Industry specialists will examine the impact of PFAS regulations on semiconductor manufacturing.
- Semiconductor Climate Consortium (SCC) Forum: An introduction to the Semiconductor Climate Consortium, which was established to reduce carbon emissions in the semiconductor industry, and present strategies for achieving net-zero.
In addition, the Supplier Climate Workshop and Energy Collaborative (EC) Workshop will be held to gather insights from semiconductor companies on sustainability strategies.
Workforce Development Initiatives
To address the growing need for talent in the semiconductor industry, SEMICON Korea 2025 will once again host dedicated workforce development programs.
- Meet the Expert!: Engineers in the semiconductor supply chain will provide career mentoring for STEM students aspiring to enter the semiconductor industry.
- Women-in-Technology Program: Female leaders in the semiconductor and high-tech sectors will discuss career paths and strategies for fostering inclusion in the workplace.
- The Path to Becoming a Semiconductor Equipment Specialist: Students will have an opportunity to reflect on and explore their career paths, while engaging with global experts in the semiconductor field.
- Technical Tutorials: University students majoring in STEM and junior engineers will receive fundamental training in the six semiconductor manufacturing processes—lithography, deposition, device, plasma and etching, CMP and cleaning, and packaging.
This year, a special partner program will also take place. In collaboration with imec, the world’s largest semiconductor research institute based in Belgium, ITF (imec Technology Forum) Korea will be held on Tuesday, February 18, at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas Hotel—one day before the official opening of SEMICON Korea 2025.
Full details are available on the SEMICON Korea 2025 website.
About SEMI
SEMI® is the global industry association connecting over 3,000 member companies and 1.5 million professionals worldwide across the semiconductor and electronics design and manufacturing supply chain. We accelerate member collaboration on solutions to top industry challenges through Advocacy, Workforce Development, Sustainability, Supply Chain Management and other programs. Our SEMICON® expositions and events, technology communities, standards and market intelligence help advance our members’ business growth and innovations in design, devices, equipment, materials, services and software, enabling smarter, faster, more secure electronics. Visit www.semi.org, contact a regional office, and connect with SEMI on LinkedIn and X to learn more.
Association Contacts
Jaegwan Shim/SEMI Korea
Phone: 82+10.3014.9807
Email: [email protected]
Sherrie Gutierrez/SEMI Corporate
Phone: +1.831.889.8900
Email: [email protected]
