The AI boom is driving demand for specialized memory chips that sit alongside GPUs. Samsung is responding with a massive expansion at its Pyeongtaek complex in South Korea, where three fabs already run around the clock and a fourth is coming online. Construction of a fifth fab, halted during a 2024 downturn, has resumed as orders surge.
The visit highlights the scale of the effort. The campus covers an area about the size of Central Park, with thousands of workers on site. Samsung predicts memory demand will keep climbing through 2028. The company is playing catch-up: domestic rival SK Hynix has pulled ahead in high-bandwidth memory for Nvidia's AI accelerators, while TSMC dominates the foundry business.
The build-out is Samsung's attempt to reclaim its lead in memory chips. The report also notes the human side: safety is a priority, with banners urging workers not to rush and a poem contest on safety. One safety officer says the pay is higher than other construction sites and expects the boom to keep her busy.