Kyung Kye-hyun, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics’ DS (Device Solutions) Division, declared the company’s ambition to regain its position as the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturer within the next 2 to 3 years. This statement came during Samsung Electronics’ annual general shareholders’ meeting held on March 20 at the Suwon Convention Center in Suwon, Gyeonggi province, where the focus was on enhancing communication with shareholders and detailing this year’s business strategies.
Kyung outlined specific plans to lead the market by developing high-capacity modules utilizing 12nm-class 32Gb DDR5 DRAM and securing dominance in the HBM3 and HBM3E markets through mass production of 12-layer stacked HBM (High Bandwidth Memory). Additionally, he unveiled preparations for the AI era, emphasizing the importance of advancing AI architectures and diversifying beyond traditional semiconductor businesses by investing in advanced packaging and emerging sectors.
To support these endeavors, Samsung Electronics’ DS Division aims to double the capacity of its semiconductor research laboratories both quantitatively and qualitatively. This includes increasing research personnel and R&D wafer investment continuously to ensure rapid application of advanced technologies to mass-produced products. Kyung emphasized their competitiveness within the industry through cutting-edge technologies and announced a 20 trillion won investment into the R&D complex under construction in the Gihyeong campus.
Kyung said, “Leveraging the technological advantage gained through R&D investment, we will secure cost competitiveness and stable profitability, creating a virtuous cycle of reinvestment in research and development.”
Han Jong-hee, Vice Chairman and CEO of Samsung Electronics’ DX (Device eXperience) Division, announced plans to integrate AI comprehensively into all devices. This includes expanding AI applications across Samsung’s mobile product range and upgrading conventional home appliances into intelligent home electronics. Furthermore, Han detailed plans to enhance the company’s comprehensive AI capabilities and promote the cultivation of new businesses such as next-generation automotive electronics, robotics, and digital health.
During the question-and-answer session, shareholders raised inquiries about the semiconductor business’s performance and long-term strategies. Kyung acknowledged the challenges and admitted “there were aspects where we didn’t manage the business well.” He then committed to regaining fundamental competitiveness, emphasizing the company’s shift from losses to profits since January. Addressing questions about Samsung’s foundry competitiveness, he emphasized efforts to improve technology and yield to remain competitive with industry leaders like TSMC. Choi Si-young, President and General Manager of DS Division’s Foundry Business, provided insights into Samsung’s technological advancements, including the maturity of 4-nm processes and plans for a stable supply of 3-nm chips.
When asked about executive accountability—“If Lee Byung-chul, the founder who focused on performance, were here, would the executives be in their current positions?”—Han emphasized the collective effort of all employees toward long-term development and encouraged continued interest and support from shareholders.
