ASML, the world's leading semiconductor exposure equipment company in the Netherlands, is investing 240 billion won in the Hwaseong semiconductor cluster, which is expected to strengthen the stability of the domestic supply of advanced equipment, materials, and parts.

On the 18th, ASML signed an investment agreement with Hwaseong City for the establishment of the ASML Hwaseong Semiconductor Cluster at the ASML Korea headquarters in Seokwoo-dong, Hwaseong City.

The event was attended by ASML Chairman Peter Wennink, ASML Korea CEO Lee Woo-kyung, Gyeonggi Province Acting Governor Oh Byung-kwon, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Moon Seung-wook, and Hwaseong Mayor Seo Cheol-mo.

Under this agreement, ASML will invest a total of KRW 240 billion by 2024 on approximately 16,000 square meters of land in Dongtan 2 New Town, Hwaseong City, to expand its existing headquarters and build a semiconductor cluster with offices that can accommodate 1,500 people, a deep ultraviolet (DUV)/EUV training center, a remanufacturing center, and an experience center.

In particular, the Semiconductor Experience Center offers science camps for students in the area.It is also operated.

Prior to the event, Minister Moon Seung-wook and CEO Peter Bennink met.

The meeting discussed recent semiconductor industry and technology trends, global semiconductor supply chain issues, and ways to strengthen cooperation with domestic companies related to ASML's new investment.

CEO Peter Bennink also expressed his appreciation for the improvements to the intermediate inspection method under the High Pressure Gas Safety Management Act, which he had suggested last year to ensure the rapid domestic supply of EUV exposure equipment.

EUV exposure equipment has a high-pressure gas manufacturing facility built into it in the form of a small package, so it is subject to general manufacturing permit under the High-Pressure Gas Safety Management Act. Previously, the Korea Gas Safety Corporation conducted an intermediate inspection locally (in the Netherlands) and then conducted a final inspection after domestic installation, which made it difficult to quickly introduce EUV equipment domestically due to the time required for the intermediate inspection.

Considering that this part is a special type of high-pressure equipment, the inspection results of the Dutch internationally recognized institution were recognized as an intermediate inspection in March of this year.

Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Moon Seung-wook said, “I congratulate the signing of the investment agreement for the ASML Hwaseong Semiconductor Cluster. We plan to actively support private investment in the semiconductor sector, including this investment, at the government level through the ‘K-Semiconductor Strategy’ announced last May.” He added, “The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will actively support resolving any difficulties in the future investment process in cooperation with Gyeonggi Province and Hwaseong City.”

Peter Wennink, Chairman of ASML, said, “The Korean market is a very important market that we have been working with since 1996,” and added, “We are grateful for the active cooperation shown by the Korean government, and we look forward to contributing to the Korean semiconductor industry.”