The trade ministers of Korea and the United States shared the view that SK's semiconductor investment in the United States is a success case of Korea-U.S. semiconductor investment.

Yeo Han-koo, Director General of the Trade Negotiation Headquarters at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Katherine Tai, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), visited SK Siltron CSS located in Auburn and Bay City, Michigan on the 16th.

The trade ministers of both countries jointly inspected the Korea-U.S. semiconductor supply chain in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. FTA, and reached a consensus that the future of the Korea-U.S. FTA lies in strengthening investment and economic security cooperation in key supply chains such as semiconductors and batteries between the two countries, and agreed to strengthen coordination between the trade authorities of both nations.

'SK Siltron CSS' is a company that SK Siltron acquired the wafer business division of DuPont Company in the United States for 450 million dollars in 2020. It produces 'SiC (Silicon Carbide) wafer,' a core material for 'power semiconductors' essential for power conversion devices in electric vehicles and solar power, and supplies it to the United States and Korea. It is recognized as an ideal case of U.S. investment contributing to economic and industrial growth and supply chain stabilization of both Korea and the United States.

Katherine Tai stated, "Over the past 10 years since the Korea-U.S. FTA was concluded, the trade and investment cooperation between the two countries has been strengthened," and added, "SK Siltron CSS is the best example of Korea-U.S. cooperation, which is why I am here today."

Director General Yeo Han-koo also evaluated, "SK Siltron CSS is a success case of Korea-U.S. supply chain cooperation, demonstrating that the two countries are working closely together for innovative green technologies such as semiconductors and batteries."

Vice Chairman Yoo Jung-jun of SK E&S, who is currently staying in the United States, represented the SK Group at this visit, and SK Siltron President Chang Yong-ho and SK Siltron CSS President Jianwei Dong attended to receive the trade ministers of both countries.

SK Siltron plans to invest an additional 300 million dollars over three years for production line expansion and other purposes, and through such active investment, it plans to create 150 additional jobs and contribute to the revitalization of the U.S. electric vehicle industry.

Additionally, by having domestic small and medium-sized enterprises adopt SiC wafers produced in the United States and utilize them in power semiconductor production, it can contribute to the activation of the domestic electric vehicle industry and renewable energy supply, thereby contributing to the growth of domestic supply chains and the domestic new industry ecosystem.

Domestically, it is being supplied to Yes PowerTechnics, which produces some power semiconductors, at an annual scale of 2 million dollars, and plans to supply to Hyundai Motor and others in the future.

An SK Siltron official stated, "Through cooperation with SK Siltron CSS in the United States and SiC wafer production, we will begin mass production of SiC wafers at our Gumi factory in Gyeongbuk from the second half of this year," and added, "This will contribute to the development of next-generation power semiconductors at global standards and the creation of an ecosystem being pursued at the government level."