Samsung Electronics Chair Lee Jae-yong has recommitted to expanding high-value industries and jobs in Korea, even as the tech giant accelerates its US semiconductor build-out.

Speaking at a presidential roundtable in Seoul on Tuesday, Lee (pictured) said Samsung would press ahead with ₩360 trillion (A$395bn) in domestic investment across semiconductors, biotech and AI.

That figure is part of a broader ₩450 trillion (A$493bn) five-year commitment announced in 2022, with four-fifths of that spending earmarked for Korea.

“Separate from our investments in the US, we will continue to invest in Korea to create quality jobs and nurture high-value-added industries,” Lee said.

Samsung has already committed ₩20 trillion (A$22bn) to its Giheung campus in Gyeonggi Province, where it is building three semiconductor fabs and a new R&D complex.

Its Pyeongtaek complex is also being expanded to house next-generation memory and foundry lines.

Beyond chips, Samsung Biologics has just completed its fifth plant in Incheon and is pushing ahead with Plants 6–8.

A ₩7.5 trillion (A$8.2bn), 10-year plan will further expand its biologics footprint. The conglomerate also plans to add 80,000 jobs over five years, with hiring already up 20% last year.

Expect to see Samsung fabs popping up across Korea and the US

One industry figure, who asked to remain anonymous, pointed out that Samsung isn’t investing heavily domestically purely out of patriotism.

They told The Korea Herald, “Given the geopolitical uncertainties, Samsung is likely aiming to build a stable ecosystem for advanced industries at home.”

After reaffirming Samsung’s commitment to Korea at the business roundtable hosted by President Lee Jae Myung, Samsung Electronics Chair Lee Jae-yong will shortly be flying to the US for a Korea-US business summit.

It’s expected there will be much discussion of South Korea’s commitment to investing around US$350 billion (A$540 billion) in the US in the coming years.