Korea-U.S. High-Tech Industrial Cooperation Strengthened: Four Companies, Including Air Products and Corning, Invest a Total of USD 2 Billion
Accelerating the Implementation of the '3 Major Mega Projects' in Semiconductor Materials, Equipment, Clean Energy, and Beyond

Four American high-tech companies in the semiconductor materials, equipment, and clean energy sectors have committed to investing a total of USD 2 billion (KRW 2.8 trillion) in South Korea. The move is expected to bolster the '3 Major Mega Projects,' expand the national industrial ecosystem, and strengthen Korea-U.S. high-tech supply chain integration.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister Kim Jung-kwan) and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA, President Kang Kyung-sung) announced that they held a 'U.S. Investment Declaration Ceremony and Investors Roundtable' in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, September 3 (local time), successfully securing USD 2 billion in domestic investments from four American high-tech firms.

The ceremony was attended by key executives including Eduardo Menezes, CEO of Air Products, alongside leaders from Corning, Axcelis Technologies, and Pacifico Energy, underscoring their commitment. Participants agreed on the importance of investment cooperation among trusted partners amid a volatile global business environment, while sharing current operations and future expansion plans in Korea. Specific conditions and strategies for project implementation were also detailed..

① Air Products, an industrial gas supplier, will build dedicated industrial gas supply infrastructure at a next-generation semiconductor production hub in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. By setting up facilities for ultra-high purity gas, rare gases for advanced sub-nanometer processes, and hydrogen production, the investment will strengthen Korea's domestic supply chain for essential semiconductor materials.

② Axcelis Technologies, a semiconductor equipment manufacturer, will expand its ion implanter manufacturing facility in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. Ion implanters are core equipment used in front-end semiconductor fabrication, and South Korea is the only country outside the U.S. where Axcelis manufactures this machinery. Through this investment, Axcelis plans to expand production capacity and add functions for R&D, prototyping, and technical training, developing Korea into a comprehensive technological innovation hub.

③ Corning, a global leader in glass, ceramics, and optical materials, will upgrade its production facilities in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, to introduce next-generation process technologies for advanced materials. Entering Korea in 1973, Corning has consistently made new investments in R&D and manufacturing, playing a crucial role in the supply chain for displays and various glass materials.

④ Pacifico Energy, an energy infrastructure firm, is developing a 3.2-GW offshore wind power project off the coast of Jindo in the Jeonnam-Gwangju region. Serving as a flagship example of a U.S.-based renewable energy developer participating in Korea's offshore wind sector, the project is expected to contribute to the clean energy supply necessary for fostering high-tech industries, such as AI data centers.

Kang Kyung-sung, President of KOTRA, stated, "This investment holds great significance as it directly connects to the semiconductor, AI data center, and physical AI sectors—the core of the government's 'Great Leap Forward: 3 Major Mega Projects'." He added, "Attracting high-tech investments will strengthen the domestic semiconductor materials and equipment supply chain while expanding the clean energy supply required for AI data centers. This will drive the development of the domestic industrial ecosystem and fortify Korea-U.S. high-tech supply chain cooperation. We will continue to do our utmost to expand domestic investments by global high-tech enterprises."



Source：Invest KOREA (2026.09.04.)