Samsung expands memory chip output at Pyeongtaek complex
What happened
Samsung is building a large semiconductor manufacturing complex in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, with an area roughly equivalent to New York's Central Park. A report on 20 October 2026 shows three fabs running around the clock, with a fourth about to start production; a fifth was halted in 2024 when memory demand fell and later restarted amid the AI boom. Samsung expects memory chip demand to keep surging until 2028 and is trying to regain the high-bandwidth memory lead taken by SK Hynix. The report also mentions that on-site workers earn 140,000 won (97 dollars) a day.
Written by AI from the reports · updated 1 h ago
Timeline
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- MIT Technology Review · AIA visit to Samsung’s massive new semiconductor hub
Generative AI models run on powerful chips known as GPUs, which depend on stacks of specialized memory chips packaged with the processor. To meet growing demand for memory, Samsung is building a massive new semiconductor manufacturing complex in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. Three fabs already operate around the clock, and a fourth is coming online.
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