Choi Ki-young, Minister of Science, ICT, and Communication (from left), former vice chairman of SK Telecom’s ICT technology growth, Hyang-ja Yang, and the Democratic Party’s highest committee member, together with the former vice-chairman of SK Telecom’s ICT technology, can raise Korea’s semiconductor competitiveness at the semiconductor industry discussion held at the National Assembly Hall in Yeouido, Seoul on the 18th. We are discussing the options that exist. Reporter Huh Moon-chan [email protected]
“There is a need to invest intensively in artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors.” “It is necessary to establish a national research institute for semiconductors and foster professional manpower.”
This is the solution proposed by experts at the recent annual conference on the theme of the Korea Economic Daily’s “Kiroe Line K Semiconductor. Participants diagnosed the war for supremacy in semiconductors, which is spreading in the form of a national war, as “it will be a risk factor for Korean companies.” At the discussion meeting held by Lee Shim-ki, head of the Korea Economic Daily, the head of the Industry Department, along with Yang Hyang-ja, the Democratic Party’s highest committee member, Choi Ki-young, the Minister of Science and Technology Information and Communication, and Lim Hyeong-gyu, former vice chairman of SK Telecom’s ICT technology growth, attended.
▷ Manager Shim-ki Lee = The battle for supremacy of semiconductors in each country is fierce. Korea is said to be the number one in the world of memory, but there are not a few points that it is holding the blade rather than the hilt.
▷Hyangja Yang, Supreme Commissioner=Crisis and opportunity coexist in a technology war. The role of the government is also important, but it is difficult without the help of the economy. There is a need for a policy that constantly works with the business community. It cannot become a state of technological hegemony that has moved separately.
▷Chief Ki-Young Choi=Stand at the inflection point. There are many areas that China can easily follow. Korea can be confident and become a big deal.
▷ Manager Lee = In what position should Korean companies find a strategic direction?
▷ Former Vice Chairman Hyung-gyu Lim=Memory semiconductors are likely to maintain their status until China’s prominence begins in earnest. The foundry (consigned production of semiconductors) is in a challenging position, but at least the top two will be maintained. In the end, the key will be’how to grow system-on-chip (SOC)-related fabless’.
▷ Manager Lee = The level of fabless in Korea is lower than that of memory or foundries.
▷ Former Vice Chairman =The image sensor has a high profile, but the SOC is such that China overtakes us. We have succeeded in internalizing the display driving chip (DDI) that goes into the TV. Samsung Electronics played a role in becoming the’World’s No. 1’on TV.
▷ Minister Choi=The number of fablesses is not small, but there are only a few large companies.
▷ Manager Lee = Can Korean fablesses also grow in size?
▷ Minister Choi=It is necessary to focus and invest in future-oriented system semiconductors including AI and big data. In this case, it is important to cooperate with mid-sized companies, small and medium-sized companies, and large companies. The government is actively trying to support.
▷Chief Yang = The fabless’ R&D capability or manpower composition is not at a global level. It must be raised like Qualcomm through mergers and acquisitions (M&A). If there is anything that is clogging, you must systematically release it.
▷ Manager Lee = Shouldn’t a large company be good at fabless?
▷ Minister Choi=Memory requires in-depth technology in a limited field, but system semiconductors require a’diverse and comprehensive’ technology in conjunction with various devices. To be good at system semiconductors, people with various backgrounds need to be creatively approached.
▷ Manager Lee = It is said that companies have a shortage of semiconductor manpower.
▷ Minister Choi=Yes. First, it is not enough to supply the technical manpower that large corporations want, and such manpower does not go to SMEs or venture companies. Meanwhile, he has neglected to raise manpower. There was an atmosphere like’Why invest because semiconductors are good.’
▷Yang Supreme Commissioner=Technology comes from talent, but education is too wrong.
▷ Manager Lee = The answer is that manpower is the key, but the important thing is execution.
▷ Minister Choi=The government struggles, but there are many institutional restrictions. For example, there are restrictions such as a limit on the number of students in the metropolitan area. It would be nice if the provinces develop and there are many excellent manpower, but it is not easy. In this situation, we are trying to get the manpower to go to the most important fields.
▷ Former Vice Chairman =Except for Samsung, it is difficult for companies to continuously develop human resources. Rather, why not set up a’Semiconductor National Research Institute’ or a’National Semiconductor Center’ to attract professionals. A high-level professional manpower must come out.
▷ Manager Lee = Wouldn’t it be difficult to grow all materials, parts, and equipment?
▷ Former Vice Chairman =You need to focus on defining key strategic areas. There should be something like a national picture, but that’s not going well. Now, memory is the world’s number one, and foundries and image sensors are on track. If only one more of NPU or AP comes up, it will become a country with a powerful system.
▷Yang Supreme Commissioner=Don’t follow just because it’s eye-catching. We have to decide what we can do well and invest at the government level as well.
▷ Manager Lee = Samsung Electronics has grown the semiconductor industry and the whole country is enjoying benefits.
▷Yang Supreme Commissioner=The politics are talking about leading countries, but there is a world-leading number one company in Korea. However, no politician is trying to learn the culture of the number one company.
▷ Former Vice Chairman =One of the most important things the late Chairman Lee Kun-hee did is talent management. The key to success is technology. The government’s role is to create an environment where companies can invest in talent for more than 10 years.
▷ Manager Lee = It seems that Korea’s labor conditions and tax support are poor.
▷Yang Supreme Commissioner=To be good at semiconductors, talented people have to spend a tremendous amount of time. Overseas companies work 16 hours each. I keep talking for 52 hours in Korea, but I think an exception is needed in the semiconductor industry.
▷ Former Vice Chairman =To agree. In the United States, the 52-hour weekly work system does not apply to professionals. In Korea, there is also a need for’white-collar ignition’ (the U.S. labor system that prevents overtime pay and minimum wages for workers who are paid more than a certain amount of time).
▷ Manager Lee = There is a noise about the government’s New Deal Fund’s investment in next-generation semiconductors,’Why are you investing in a field you do well?’
▷ Minister Choi=The New Deal Fund invests in promising areas of the future. It is to grow a pie in a field that works well. Among them, it focuses on system semiconductors. The opportunity for semiconductors lies in AI. When Corona 19 subsides, it is necessary to invest intensively in future industries in a new world.
▷Yang Supreme Commissioner=In the end, technology beats politics. In the next five years, experts from science, technology, economy, and companies must go to the mainstream and do state management. Only then will the country go up a notch.
Summary = Reporter Hwang Jeong-soo [email protected]