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Christophe Fouquet, the CEO of ASML, a semiconductor equipment firm known as the “super supplier” within the industry, held discussions with local semiconductor leaders, such as Jun Young-hyun, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics, and Kwak Noh-jung, CEO of SK Hynix.

As per the semiconductor industry on the 12th, Fouquet CEO was said to have met Vice Chairman Jun Young-hyun following his attendance at the completion ceremony of ASML’s Hwaseong Campus in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, that morning. The day before, he was reported to have met President Kwak Noh-jung.

ASML, a Dutch firm specializing in semiconductor manufacturing equipment, is the sole manufacturer of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems, which are crucial for producing highly advanced semiconductors. Although ASML needs to supply its equipment to companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, its unmatched technical expertise has led to it being referred to as the “super supplier.” Following the 2019 ban on EUV equipment exports to China, the country has made efforts to develop its own technology but still lags behind ASML’s advancements. As a result, the competition among semiconductor firms to obtain ASML’s equipment continues to be intense. Lee Jae-yong, the Chairman of Samsung Electronics, has also traveled to the Netherlands several times to meet with ASML’s leadership and highlight the importance of collaboration.

Industry experts believe that local semiconductor firms probably talked about enhancing cooperation with ASML during these discussions. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, who are in competition for advanced semiconductor technology, urgently need ASML’s machinery. Both companies have already brought in ASML’s latest “High-NA EUV” equipment. Samsung Electronics set up its first High-NA system domestically earlier this year and intends to install more this year. SK Hynix also brought in the High-NA equipment to its M16 Fab in Icheon last September. An industry insider said, “Obtaining ASML’s equipment at the right moment before global rivals is essential for advancing semiconductor processes.”