[사설]Is the fluctuating global semiconductor market, Samsung’s crisis’strong and strong

From the beginning of this year, the movement of the global semiconductor industry has been grim. As semiconductor demand is expected to surge this year, TSMC, Taiwan’s No. 1 foundry company (which produces semiconductors by taking over product designs from outside), announced a large-scale investment plan and quickly stepped into the lead. TSMC’s investment decision is in line with the recent shortage of automotive semiconductors and Intel’s declaration of expansion of consignment production. Unfortunately, a series of news came before and after Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, was sentenced again. Samsung’s crisis is acting as an opportunity for competitors.

Samsung Electronics aims to become the No. 1 system semiconductor by 2030. Vice-Chairman Lee said, “Let’s create a myth in system semiconductors,” when he visited Samsung Electronics’ Pyeongtaek business site as his first business move this year. It means that it is to become a future growth engine by enhancing competitiveness in the non-memory field as well as in the memory semiconductor, which is currently the number one in the world. In a message sent to executives and employees yesterday, Vice Chairman Lee stressed, “Regardless of the situation in which I am facing, Samsung should continue to follow the path it should go.”

However, there is inevitably a limit to achieving the goal with’outdoor management’ that will last for up to 18 months. In order to cope with the rapidly changing market conditions, the timing of investment is of paramount importance, and the question is whether Lee, who is under arrest, can make investment decisions worth tens of trillions of won with limited reports. Immediately, Samsung Electronics must make an investment decision for the P3 line in Pyeongtaek, which is expected to invest more than 30 trillion won. It is time to make a decision whether to expand investment in the US semiconductor plant, but if it remains the same, it will be in a position to continue to pursue competitors.

Among these, there is a prospect that even prison management is not restricted. This is because some civic groups are demanding the dismissal of the directors of Samsung Electronics because of the decision of Vice Chairman Lee. It is also a task to be solved that according to the regulations on employment restrictions in the Act on Aggravated Punishment for Specific Economic Crimes, etc., it is impossible to work at Samsung Electronics for five years after the end of the sentence.

In the business world, there are constant voices that the vice chairman should hurry to pardon Lee in consideration of the economic crisis. The concerns many have about Samsung’s tomorrow are by no means unfounded.