Dongjin Semichem Expands Domestic Photoresist Factory Despite Japanese Regulations

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Dongjin Semichem, a semiconductor and display materials company, is building an expansion plant for photoresist, one of the items subject to Japan's export regulations, during the first quarter.

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on the 15th, Dongjin Semichem has developed and produced domestically for the first time the ArF-immersion photoresist for semiconductors, which is the immediate precursor to extreme ultraviolet (EUV) photoresist.

The company plans to start expanding its factories producing photoresists such as KrF (Krypton fluoride) and ArF (Argon fluoride) in the first quarter of this year.

Once the expansion plant is completed as planned and operates normally early next year, Dongjin Semichem will be able to increase domestic photoresist production by more than twice the current amount.

Photoresist is a photosensitive material essential for forming patterns on wafer substrates during the semiconductor photolithography (Photo) process stage.

It is mainly classified according to the wavelength of the reacting light, such as KrF (248nm), ArF (193nm), and EUV (13.5nm), with shorter wavelengths enabling finer processes.

Photoresist has mostly depended on imports from Japan, but since Japan's export regulations, the dependence on imports from Japan has been reduced, and supply stability is being rapidly secured.

According to the Korea International Trade Association, the share of photoresist imports from Japan dropped from 92% in January-June last year to 85% in July-November.

Import sources have diversified to countries other than Japan, such as Belgium (RMQC), the United States (DuPont), and Germany (Merck), and recently DuPont decided to establish development and production facilities for EUV photoresist in Cheonan, Chungnam.

Domestic technological development and mass production evaluation will continue to secure domestic technological capabilities for photoresist.

Jung Seung-il, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, said, "As a result of the combined efforts of the public and private sectors since Japan's export regulations in July last year, supply stability of core materials including the three major items such as photoresist is being secured," adding, "With the groundbreaking of Dongjin Semichem's production plant expansion, the domestic supply stability of photoresist will be further strengthened."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.