# Samsung expands memory chip fabs in Pyeongtaek amid AI boom

Digest AI · Hardware & Compute · published 2026-10-20T09:00:00Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/samsung-expands-memory-chip-fabs-in-pyeongtaek-amid-ai-boom

## Summary

Samsung is building a massive semiconductor complex in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, to meet the rising demand for memory chips that power generative‑AI GPUs. Three fabs already run around the clock, a fourth has just come online, and a fifth, halted in 2024, has restarted as AI demand surged. The campus spreads over an area roughly the size of New York City’s Central Park, with workers moving between buffets, diners and real‑estate offices on a bustling site.

Safety officer Choi Hye‑rin, 35, oversees cable‑duct crews and spotters, writing reports and checking chemicals. She earns 140,000 won ($97) a day and says the pace and conditions are easier than other construction sites. Samsung predicts memory‑chip demand will keep rising through 2028 as it tries to reclaim lead from domestic rival SK Hynix and amid TSMC’s dominance in the broader foundry market. The expansion reflects the AI boom’s pressure on the supply chain for high‑bandwidth memory used in Nvidia’s accelerators.

## Key points

- Samsung operates three memory fabs in Pyeongtaek, a fourth is online, a fifth restarted after 2024 slowdown.
- The campus covers an area about the size of New York City's Central Park.
- Workers like safety officer Choi Hye‑rin earn 140,000 won ($97) per day and expect continued AI‑driven demand through 2028.

## Why it matters

Memory chips are critical for GPUs that run generative AI models; Samsung's expanded capacity aims to regain market lead and support the AI boom through 2028.

## Sources

1. [A visit to Samsung’s massive new semiconductor hub](https://technologyreview.com/2026/10/20/1145916/dispatch-visit-to-samsung-massive-new-semiconductor-hub) (MIT Technology Review AI, 2026-10-20)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Samsung expands memory chip fabs in Pyeongtaek amid AI boom", 20 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/samsung-expands-memory-chip-fabs-in-pyeongtaek-amid-ai-boom

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