Samsung Electronics plans to begin operations at its first Yongin semiconductor plant in 2029, about one to two years ahead of previous timelines.

The accelerated schedule aligns with government efforts to expedite development of the Yongin National Industrial Complex, a national strategic project.

Under its mega project investment plan, Samsung will pour roughly 2,030 trillion won (about US$1.35 trillion) into the Pyeongtaek and Yongin clusters, and 400 trillion won to build two new chip plants in Gwangju, which sits roughly 270 kilometers south of Seoul.

The Yongin plant is the centerpiece of a six-plant Yongin semiconductor complex designed to be Samsung’s next-generation manufacturing hub.

The push to start earlier is driven by the rapid growth in global demand for artificial intelligence chips.