Seoul Attracts German Firm Henkel's 'R&D Center,' Secures 12.1 Billion Won Investment

New R&D hub for AI and HBM semiconductors
12.1 billion won in foreign direct investment by 2031
15 specialized researchers to be hired

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has attracted a research and development center for advanced semiconductor packaging materials from Henkel, a global German company specializing in adhesives and electronic materials. The plan is to conduct R&D in Seoul on key materials needed for AI semiconductors and high-bandwidth memory (HBM), expand technological cooperation with Korean semiconductor companies, and support materials competitiveness and supply chain stability.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said it would sign an agreement with Henkel, a global German chemical company, at Seoul City Hall on the 9th. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) covers the establishment of an R&D center for semiconductor packaging materials. Attendees at the signing ceremony included Kim Hyunwoo, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Economic Office; Kim Youngmi, CEO of Henkel Korea; and Jang Hojun, CEO of Henkel Korea’s Adhesive Technologies and Electronic Materials business unit.

Founded in Germany in 1876, Henkel is a global company with a 150-year history in adhesives, materials and consumer goods. It operates in 79 countries worldwide and, as of 2025, had annual revenue of approximately 20.5 billion euros (about 30 trillion won) and around 50,000 employees. It has particular R&D expertise in adhesives and electronic materials used in advanced industries, including semiconductors.

Henkel Korea, established in 1989 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Henkel, is jointly led by CEOs Jang Hojun and Kim Youngmi and operates manufacturing and R&D facilities in Seoul, Cheonan, Incheon, Eumseong and Busan. It has invested approximately 87.6 billion won in domestic R&D and advanced materials production facilities, and plans to further expand its domestic research capabilities in semiconductor materials through this investment in a Seoul R&D center.

Under the agreement, Henkel will invest a total of 12.1 billion won in foreign direct investment (FDI) in Seoul by 2031 and hire 15 new specialized researchers, including people with master’s and doctoral degrees. The research center will focus on developing key advanced packaging materials, including high-performance electronic adhesives and thermal management materials, which are essential for AI semiconductors and next-generation HBM.

The new R&D center, Henkel Technology Center Korea, will be located in the Gasan Digital Complex in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, and will cover 5,112 square meters. It will consolidate existing domestic R&D functions in Seoul while establishing new R&D capabilities for AI and HBM semiconductor packaging materials.

Semiconductor packaging is a technology that protects semiconductor chips and connects them to other components so they can perform as intended. As the capabilities of AI semiconductors and HBM continue to advance, the importance of advanced materials is growing. These materials effectively dissipate heat generated by semiconductors and securely connect multiple semiconductor chips.

Henkel is establishing an R&D hub in Seoul to strengthen technological cooperation with Korean semiconductor companies in response to the growth of the AI and HBM semiconductor markets. Through its Seoul R&D center, Henkel plans to develop advanced packaging materials tailored to the technological needs of domestic customers and expand joint research and technical support.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will pursue multifaceted cooperation with Henkel so that this R&D investment can strengthen the competitiveness of Korea’s semiconductor industry. Key areas of cooperation include ▲technology development and localization of key semiconductor packaging materials; ▲joint research and technological cooperation with domestic demand-side companies, as well as support for corporate innovation; and ▲developing young talent through industry-academia partnerships with domestic universities and research institutions. The city also plans to strengthen the foundation for cooperation among industry, academia, government and research institutions, enabling Korean semiconductor companies to jointly develop technologies with global materials companies and outstanding talent from universities and research institutions to participate in advanced-industry R&D.

“Developing technologies for key materials and securing a stable supply chain are important to maintaining competitiveness in the AI semiconductor and HBM markets,” said Kim Hyunwoo, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Economic Office. “Henkel’s decision to establish an R&D center here is significant because it will expand the advanced R&D capabilities of a global company in Seoul and could lead to technological cooperation with Korean semiconductor companies and the creation of high-quality research jobs.”

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