Around 15:37 local time on Thursday, a fire broke out at the Samsung SDI factory in Giheung, South Korea, and was extinguished after about 20 minutes.
Samsung SDI reported that there were 27 workers on site, all of whom evacuated after the fire.
The fire did not result in any casualties, but some tents near the fire site were scorched. The fire department is still investigating the cause and extent of the damage. It is currently believed that the fire was caused by sparks from welding at the construction site igniting combustible materials.
As Samsung’s storage business also has facilities in Giheung, many speculate that this fire could be another pretext for Samsung to raise prices. However, a Samsung Semiconductor official clarified that this fire is unrelated to its semiconductor business. Samsung SDI stated, “We will continue to provide safety awareness to prevent such accidents.“
Samsung SDI’s main business includes lithium batteries and electronic materials. On March 20, the company announced its plan to mass-produce all-solid-state batteries by 2027 and to produce and provide samples by the end of 2026.
Currently, Samsung SDI is collaborating with Stellantis and General Motors to build two battery factories in Indiana, USA.
Public records show that Samsung Electronics’ Giheung campus, located south of Seoul near the DS Division’s Hwaseong campus, was the birthplace of the world’s first 64Mb DRAM in 1992, marking the beginning of the company’s leadership in semiconductors.
The new semiconductor R&D center in Giheung, which broke ground on August 19, 2023, aims to expand Samsung’s leadership in cutting-edge semiconductor technology. Samsung Electronics plans to invest approximately 20 trillion Korean won (about 108.4 billion yuan) by 2028 in an area of about 109,000 square meters within its Giheung campus. The new facility will lead advanced research in next-generation memory and system semiconductor devices and processes, as well as the development of innovative new technologies based on a long-term roadmap.
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