Korean Semiconductor Materials, Components, and Equipment Companies Have Grown to the Scale of Conglomerates

The scale of Korean semiconductor materials, components, and equipment (MCE) companies is different from the past. Companies like HPSP and Leeno Industrial already offer salaries that surpass those of many major conglomerates. It has been a while since their average annual salaries exceeded 100 million KRW, and some companies are even eyeing the 150 million KRW mark.
With the operating profit margins of Korean semiconductor MCE companies ranging from 30% to 50%, mid-tier conglomerates cannot even compete. Since no industry offers better future growth potential than semiconductors, this gap is expected to widen further.
Although not included in the table, equipment companies like Eugene Technology also offer average salaries of 80–90 million KRW plus separate performance bonuses, and their financial results are excellent. Having a firm grip on the semiconductor industry is a massive national advantage.
Recently, growth potential has been immense as MCE companies are expanding rapidly not only in the memory business but also in the foundry industry. It is also positive to see the localization of materials, components, and equipment that were previously imported from overseas.
With a semiconductor foundation, Korea is entering its greatest golden age since its founding, spanning power, defense, shipbuilding, secondary batteries, bio, and nuclear power. Corporate earnings are expected to trend upward at least until 2029–2030.