韩国加快EUV光刻机进口

Core Viewpoint - The South Korean government is simplifying the safety approval process for importing extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment, which is crucial for semiconductor production, particularly for advanced chips at 7nm and below [1][2]. Group 1: Regulatory Changes - The current approval process for EUV lithography equipment takes about 15 days due to safety inspections related to high-pressure gas usage, which is not required in other regions like the US and Taiwan [1]. - The South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy plans to revise the implementation details of the High-Pressure Gas Safety Management Act to significantly simplify the safety inspection process for EUV equipment [2]. - The proposed changes will categorize EUV lithography equipment as "specific equipment" rather than high-pressure gas facilities, aiming to reduce inspection time to less than two days [2]. Group 2: Industry Perspectives - ASML's Korea president emphasized the need for regulatory relaxation to allow South Korean semiconductor manufacturers to compete fairly with international counterparts [2]. - Industry insiders argue that EUV lithography equipment should be excluded from high-pressure gas regulations due to its inherent safety, suggesting that easing regulations would alleviate burdens on companies [2].