Samsung will reshape its future industry portfolio into four regional clusters. It will build on the semiconductor-focused Seoul metropolitan area and distribute bases for sovereign AI, next-generation memory, and robots and all-solid-state batteries across Honam, Chungcheong and Yeongnam. Samsung said on Sunday it will invest a total of 2,655 trillion won domestically to foster cutting-edge future industries.

The investment assigns different roles by region. It will put 2,030 trillion won into the capital-region semiconductor cluster, including the Pyeongtaek campus and the Yongin national industrial complex. It will add 625 trillion won across Honam, Chungcheong and Yeongnam, focusing on AI semiconductors, robots, batteries and information technology components and materials. The plan disperses non-memory future industries by region from the existing semiconductor-centric structure. Samsung explained that the investment is aimed at proactively responding to shifts in the technology paradigm in the AI era and strengthening future competitiveness.

Honam takes the largest share. Samsung will invest a total of 425 trillion won in Honam, including 400 trillion won for semiconductors. Samsung Electronics plans to build a new semiconductor fab in Gwangju and push to establish a digital-twin-based innovation hub. Samsung explained that as it needs to develop the next semiconductor cluster earlier than originally planned following Giheung, Hwaseong, Pyeongtaek and Yongin, it is considering Gwangju as a candidate site in view of conditions for securing and training power, water and manpower. If the Gwangju cluster is built, it is expected to become one of two key clusters leading South Korea's semiconductor industry along with the capital region. Samsung Electronics also plans to equip its Gwangju site with a digital-twin innovation hub for smart home appliances and production facilities for heat pumps and air-conditioning units needed for AI data centres.

Honam will also gather bases beyond semiconductors. A consortium led by Samsung SDS will build an AI data centre at Solarsido in Haenam to secure sovereign AI infrastructure. Sovereign AI refers to an AI ecosystem that a country develops and controls independently without relying on overseas big tech companies. The Solarsido data centre is expected to serve as a headquarters supporting AX, or AI transformation, for finance, defence and public services, and as a base to strengthen research and development capabilities of universities, research institutes and companies, and to support industrial physical AI. Samsung C&T will invest in solar and nuclear-based hydrogen production facilities and a green hydrogen demonstration complex, and Samsung Electronics will build a global state-of-the-art logistics centre in Gochang, North Jeolla Province.

The regional layout shows Samsung's intent. Semiconductor production is grouped in the capital region and in Honam and Chungcheong, while new growth pillars such as sovereign AI, physical AI and next-generation batteries are distributed across Honam and Yeongnam. Data centres will be placed in two locations, Haenam and Gumi, and batteries will be split between Cheonan for next-generation products and Ulsan for all-solid-state batteries, creating two hubs. It has chosen a region-specific structure rather than a single large complex.

A key point being watched is how this portfolio reshuffle, which expands from a single semiconductor axis to sovereign AI, physical AI and next-generation batteries, will be specified by region.

Chungcheong will receive a total of 140 trillion won. Samsung Electronics will build a 56 trillion won state-of-the-art high-bandwidth memory fab in Cheonan and Onyang. It is a key hub to meet demand for HBM that powers the AI industry. Samsung Display will build a 67 trillion won production base in Asan for next-generation smartphone displays such as foldables and ultra-high-resolution micro displays. Micro displays are ultra-small, high-resolution components of 1 inch or less, and are seen as key parts of immersive XR devices such as augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed reality that are expected to grow alongside the AI era. Samsung SDI will build a global mother factory for next-generation batteries in Cheonan, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics will create a package substrate line for AI servers in Sejong.

Yeongnam will receive 60 trillion won, with a focus on applying AX and RX, or robot transformation, to core manufacturing industries. Samsung Electronics will build a mother factory in Gumi that will serve as an innovation hub for global smartphone manufacturing, along with mass production lines for physical AI and humanoid robots. Samsung SDS will build an AI data centre in the same region. Samsung SDI will expand investment in Ulsan in batteries for next-generation all-solid-state batteries and battery energy storage systems, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics will base next-generation multilayer ceramic capacitors and package substrates for IT and automotive electronics in Busan. In Geoje, Samsung Heavy Industries will establish a base to build cutting-edge high value-added ships.