ASM's grand opening of Hwaseong center, powering growth in Korea and beyond
We have opened a new US $100 million semiconductor innovation and manufacturing center in Hwaseong, marking three decades of partnership and growth in Korea.
New center marks 30-year milestone
ASM strengthened its presence in Korea with the official opening of a new semiconductor innovation and manufacturing center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, marking a US $100 million investment and the 30th anniversary of ASM’s establishment in the country. The center significantly expands our manufacturing capacity and plays a key role in supporting global demand for advanced chips that power artificial intelligence and other data-driven applications.
More than 100 guests attended the grand opening ceremony, including our CEO Hichem M’Saad, Supervisory Board Chair Pauline van der Meer Mohr, ASM Korea representative director YoungSuk Lee, and senior representatives from the Gyeonggi Provincial Government, Hwaseong City Government, Invest Korea, the Dutch Embassy, and leading customers. Their presence underscored the close collaboration between ASM, government, customers, and partners in advancing Korea’s role as a global semiconductor hub.
Investing in talent and community
Talent development and community partnership were central themes of the event. We highlighted our ongoing collaboration with the Hwaseong City Human Resource Development & Scholarship Foundation, building on a KRW 100 million donation in 2023 to support local students through programs such as global site visits, and announcing an additional KRW 70 million contribution to nurture the next generation of semiconductor professionals.
Enabling next-generation chips
As a worldwide leader in Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and epitaxy (Epi), ASM provides core process technologies that enable next-generation semiconductor devices, including advanced nodes such as 2 nm Gate-All-Around logic and high-performance DRAM for AI. The new Hwaseong center strengthens our ability to deliver atomic-scale precision for customers, supporting improved device performance, lower power consumption, and higher integration density across applications from edge computing to data centers.
Hwaseong’s strategic role in ASM’s growth
Hwaseong and the wider Dongtan area have long been important to our growth, serving as a global hub for PEALD development and advanced technology support for customers in Korea and worldwide. The expansion provides additional space for our growing workforce and reflects the strong contribution of Korea to our business, creating new jobs in engineering, manufacturing, and related functions, and deepening ties with local suppliers and training partners.
“The new innovation and manufacturing center in Hwaseong anchors ASM’s next chapter of excellence,” said Hichem M’Saad, our CEO. “Korea is a strategic hub for cutting-edge semiconductor innovation and a cornerstone of ASM’s global growth strategy, and we will continue to invest in advanced manufacturing and technology here to help shape the future of the industry together.”
State-of-the-art facilities and workplace
Built on a 7,400 m² site alongside our existing Korean facilities, the second building adds substantial production and office space and includes two advanced cleanrooms and a modern warehouse logistics system to enhance manufacturing efficiency. A future-ready office environment – featuring collaboration areas, focus zones, and employee amenities – is designed to support our global culture of excellence and cross-functional teamwork.
ASMers celebrate
Following the grand opening, ASMers came together to celebrate the milestone with a series of fun games, snacks and prizes. The atmosphere was filled with energy as colleagues bonded and enjoyed the festivities.
