| Abstract: | This paper examines the growth process by which the semiconductor industry in Korea has developed, the reasons for its remarkable growth, and the competitive strategy it has recently been pursuing to maintain its competitive edge in the world semiconductor market. The Korean semiconductor industry started from off-assembly by foreign firms in the mid-1960s and has progressed to self-development of 4M dynamic random access memory and mass production of various frontier very large scale integrated circuits, going, in turn, through embryonic, transitional, take-off and expansion, and self-supportive stages. The possession of skilled, inexpensive human resources, the given size of the domestic market, the strong commitment of entrepreneurs with large investment capability, private firms' appropriate selection and expansion of suitable business scope for its technological capability, and aggressive investment in research and development (R&D) and production facilities, together with government subsidies in R&D and manpower training and coordination of collaborative research among private firms, have facilitated the growth of the Korean semiconductor industry and enhanced its competitive position in the world semiconductor market. |
