Samsung Electronics is pushing forward with plans to begin operations at its first semiconductor plant (fab) in the Yongin National Industrial Complex in Gyeonggi Province by 2029. This timeline is 1–2 years earlier than initially expected, suggesting the company aims to accelerate the Yongin production base before expanding domestic semiconductor manufacturing hubs to Gwangju.

According to industry sources on July 12, Samsung Electronics is targeting 2029 for the first fab’s operation among six planned fabs in the Yongin National Industrial Complex. This is 1–2 years earlier than the previously anticipated 2030–2031 timeline.

To meet the 2029 target, Samsung must expedite land compensation, site preparation, factory construction, and the establishment of large-scale power and water supply facilities.

The Yongin National Industrial Complex was first announced in March 2023 and received industrial complex plan approval in December 2024. Samsung Electronics plans to invest up to 360 trillion Korean won to build six fabs in the Iseong and Namsa-eup areas of Yongin. Land compensation and appraisal processes began last year, and in December 2025, the project operator Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) and Samsung Electronics signed a contract for the sale of industrial site land.

The urgency in the Yongin project aligns with Samsung’s announcement last month of a semiconductor investment plan for the Honam region. On June 30, Samsung revealed it would invest a total of 425 trillion Korean won in Honam, with approximately 400 trillion Korean won allocated to constructing two new fabs in Gwangju.

Samsung stated, “To address the rapidly growing global semiconductor demand, the investment timeline for the Yongin National Industrial Complex has been significantly accelerated following the Giheung, Hwaseong, and Pyeongtaek sites. The timing for preparing a new cluster after Yongin has also been moved forward.”

Industry observers interpret this as Samsung’s strategy to prioritize the already planned Yongin National Industrial Complex before fully advancing the Honam semiconductor investment. Speeding up the Yongin fab construction allows Samsung to sequentially proceed with long-term production facility investments spanning Yongin and Gwangju.