In 1998, AD Chips Co., Ltd. chose the 'CPU', which had a high level of technical difficulty, as a breakthrough for survival as a venture company. At that time, there were no CPU (Central Processing Unit) cores that could be used domestically. We thought that if we developed the CPU cores that were essential for designing SoCs, even large companies would not be able to easily catch up. Vice President Lee Hee of AD Chips said, "As someone who studied electronic engineering at the time, I chose CPU technology as a technology that would leave a mark and be passed on to my juniors."

However, the problem was technology. In a situation where there were overseas companies with strong leading technologies, they had to have differentiation and competitiveness. They also had to avoid intellectual property disputes with companies such as ARM, Intel, and IBM. The technology that was born that way is the EISC (Extended Instruction Structure) ISA, which is the basis of the domestic CPU core, emCORE.

However, the domestic processor technology that emerged in 2001 was not well known to the public because it was overshadowed by foreign ARM, MIPS, ARC, and Tensilica processors. Above all, it was difficult to enter the market due to the negative perception of domestic technology. Vice President Lee Hee said, “We have continuously developed domestic processors by investing company operating funds,” and “Despite many difficulties, we have not given up on the CPU business and have maintained our presence as the only company in Korea.” Over the 18 years of history of the Emcore processor, which has continued without giving up, Emcore-based chips have cumulatively shipped over 50 million units.


▲ ADCHIPS' emCore

The CPU development of AD Chips is a case that clearly shows how difficult it is to develop a domestic product in a situation where there are strong overseas competitors and technologies. It is not over once the product is made. After the product is released, the prejudice that it is a domestic product must be overcome. In order to gain the trust of the people who use the product and to gain competitiveness, as much effort as development is required.

The domestic CPU business that started last year is the same. There was a lot of talk and a lot of trouble. As Song Yong-ho, the head of the Intelligent Semiconductor Promotion Team who led the business, said, there were many twists and turns in the process of creating the domestic CPU core development project. People asked why they were doing a business that wasn’t competitive. However, at a meeting to share the business results of a year and a half, Director Song expressed his opinion that the business should be carried out ‘seriously.’ It sounded like he was saying that the government should not only criticize the fact that it cannot ‘seriously’ foster any industry, but that the industry players should also be persistent.

Jaehong Eom, CEO of Believe Micron, which developed a wireless communication SoC using the domestic CPU core, Core-A, said, “Previously, when it came to radios, Motorola was the name, but since 2008, Chinese companies have been making great strides by using only digital radios. Chinese companies are making products using their own CPU cores, so why can’t we?” “We also thought that it would be possible to develop SoCs using domestic CPU cores,” he said. “Domestic CPU cores can also be successful if companies like us take responsibility and take the lead,” Eom added.

Song Yong-ho, Business Unit Manager, "There are many twists and turns... We must succeed"

Director Song emphasized that the domestic CPU development project must “achieve results.” He wants to hear that there were results, and that the next project is possible only when there are actual results. He said that some commercialization results have surfaced and that it is fortunate that the possibility has been confirmed. He added that he hopes that commercialization will spread and the day will come soon when domestic CPU core companies receive royalties.

However, contrary to the wishes of business entities, the development of domestic CPU cores is not so easy. This is because they do not want to take a ‘risk’ in using the CPU cores that are the core of the SoC. They do not want to cause problems by using domestic products instead of using foreign products that are already highly reliable. Companies that have used domestic CPUs also do not deny the fact that there are disadvantages as well as advantages.

The important point is that even in these circumstances, domestic CPU companies and related organizations are continuing to 'seriously' focus on technology development. This is because foreign products cannot keep up with domestic products in terms of price competitiveness or technical support. In fact, companies that use domestic CPU cores say that the convenience of being able to contact and resolve problems whenever they arise is a major advantage.

The problem is the future. We need to know that we have domestically produced CPUs that are useful, and developers need to continue to improve by fully reflecting the opinions of demanders. As the report cards have increased, the homework has increased. At least as one semiconductor company official said, if we cannot provide the reliability that using domestic CPUs will either be a 'money-maker' or a 'bomb', the spread of domestic CPUs will be a distant goal.