Industry sources said on Monday that Samsung Electronics is moving to begin operations at the first semiconductor manufacturing plant within the Yongin chip complex in 2029, one to two years ahead of schedule.
The acceleration comes as the government pushes to fast-track development of the Yongin national industrial complex, a strategic project set to serve as the hub for the company's next-generation semiconductor manufacturing.
Samsung currently plans to begin operations in 2029 at the first of 6 semiconductor plants to be built at the Yongin industrial complex, located south of Seoul.
A sector official said the early launch of the first plant would enable Samsung to respond more swiftly to rapidly growing global demand for artificial intelligence chips.
The chipmaker announced last month that, as part of its large-scale investment plan, it intends to invest 2,030 trillion won ($1.35 trillion) in the semiconductor complexes in Pyeongtaek and Yongin, in addition to 400 trillion won to build two new chip plants in Gwangju, 270 kilometres south of Seoul.