Attention is focused on the specific details and composition of the investment plans totaling over 4.7 quadrillion won announced by Samsung Electronics and SK Group.

There is a significant gap compared to the 1.5 quadrillion won investment scale announced by the government, which largely stems from different criteria used to aggregate existing and new investments.

Yesterday (June 29), the government presented a semiconductor-centered investment plan totaling 1.461 quadrillion won, which includes a semiconductor production hub in the Honam region (800 trillion won), an HBM packaging hub in the Chungcheong region (81 trillion won), AI data centers (550 trillion won), and next-generation semiconductor research and development (R&D) (30 trillion won).

This figure was rounded up and referred to as a 1.5 quadrillion won investment.

In contrast, Samsung announced a mid-to-long-term domestic investment plan of 2.655 quadrillion won, while SK announced 2.1 quadrillion won.

The combined investment scale of the two companies reaches approximately 4.755 quadrillion won.

The government explained that the investment scale it announced on that day was calculated based primarily on regional investments among three mega-projects (semiconductors, physical AI, and AI data centers).

On the other hand, the government stated that Samsung and SK's mid-to-long-term investment plans include nationwide investments, including the capital region, as well as investments by affiliates in areas beyond semiconductors, such as AI data centers, displays, batteries, and energy.

The regional investment scale, combining government and corporate announcements, stands at 896 trillion won for the Honam region, 392 trillion won for the Chungcheong region, and approximately 270 trillion won for the Yeongnam region.

Of these, the Honam region includes four semiconductor fabs (800 trillion won), as well as investments in AI data centers, smart appliances, and energy. The Chungcheong region includes semiconductors (156 trillion won), AIDC, and investments in displays, batteries, and bio-industries.

The Yeongnam region also includes investments in AIDC, physical AI, and the automotive, shipbuilding, aerospace, and energy sectors.

The investment plans actually presented by the companies contain blueprints for long-term, nationwide investments.

Through its 2026–2040 domestic investment vision, Samsung plans to invest 2.03 quadrillion won in semiconductor clusters in Pyeongtaek and Yongin, and 625 trillion won in the Honam, Chungcheong, and Yeongnam regions.

SK unveiled a mid-to-long-term investment roadmap that includes SK Telecom's approximately 1 quadrillion won investment in AI data centers and SK Hynix's plan to build an AI memory production belt worth 1.1 quadrillion won.

Specifically, SK Hynix plans to invest in Yongin (600 trillion won), Cheongju (100 trillion won), and the Honam region (400 trillion won).

Industry insiders believe the difference in investment scale between the government and the companies is due not only to the scope of the aggregation but also to the reflection of existing investment expansion plans.

In particular, the sharp rise in construction costs for semiconductor factories in the AI era is cited as the background for the increased investment scale.

According to industry sources, the investment cost per fab, which was about 30 trillion won in the past, has increased to 60 trillion won and has recently risen to at least 100 trillion won.

This means it is difficult to classify the entire 100 trillion won in investment costs as existing investments.

Previously, Samsung Electronics announced last year that it would invest 360 trillion won to build six semiconductor production lines at the Yongin National Industrial Complex, and it is also pushing for the construction of its 5th and 6th factories at the Pyeongtaek campus by investing tens of trillions of won.

The plan is to expand production capacity and investment scale beyond existing plans, centering on Yongin and Pyeongtaek.

SK Hynix is also investing a total of 600 trillion won in phases into the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster and is simultaneously pursuing existing investments, such as building the P&T7 advanced packaging fab in Cheongju at a cost of 19 trillion won.

It is analyzed that the total investment scale has expanded as plans for new NAND fabs and the creation of a new production hub in the Honam region have been added to these efforts.