Global chip companies scramble to obtain industry talent in Korea

Lam Research Korea Technology Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea [Courtesy of Lam Research]

Global semiconductor companies are scrambling to secure industry talents in South Korea as they expand investment in the country instead of China amid the U.S.’ tightened technology control against the world’s second-largest economy.

According to multiple sources from the chip industry on Sunday, U.S. chip equipment company Lam Research Corp. held the Lam Research Tech Academy, a semiconductor equipment training program for junior and senior college students in Korea, on June 28.

The program involved learning about the operation principles of semiconductor processing equipment and hands-on practical exercises.

It was the first time the global company has offered such a program in Korea. The program was designed to provide education on semiconductor equipment and secure human resources. Since establishing an R&D center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province in April last year, Lam Research has been hiring more employees.

Students were more than enthusiastic to attend the unprecedented program. The competition ratio for the academy was reported to be 80 to 1.

Lam Research plans to give bonus points to students that completed the program when they apply for regular employment. The company plans to continue to hold the academy in the coming years.

“We planned this program to attract more young Korean talents to the semiconductor industry,” said an unnamed official from Lam Research.

The company’s move comes as competition for talent in the Korean chip industry is intensifying among the global players.

The world’s top semiconductor equipment companies, Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT) from the U.S., ASML Holding N.V. from the Netherlands, Lam Research, and Tokyo Electron Limited (TEL) from Japan, are all building or expanding R&D centers in Korea to meet the demand from major customers such as Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc.

AMAT plans to establish an R&D center in Gyeonggi Province, while ASML is building a new headquarters and component remanufacturing facility in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. TEL is also expanding its existing R&D center in Hwaseong, with an aim for completion as early as this year.

With the increased investment, AMAT posted 13 job openings this year. ASML plans to double the size of its Korean branch, which currently has around 2,000 employees, within 10 years.

Infineon Technologies AG, the world’s top automotive semiconductor company from Germany, has been holding recruitment information sessions at major universities in Korea since May, including Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) and Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST).

“In a situation where there are not many science and engineering professionals, it is not easy to compete with local conglomerates such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix in terms of recognition, salary, and welfare,” said an official from a global semiconductor company.