Chapter 150: New Testing Ground (4)

President Ryu Ji-heon stopped speaking for a moment and looked at the U.S. side officials sitting in the meeting room.

Confidence overflowed in his voice.

“RE Electronics is not simply a company that produces semiconductors. We are a company that takes responsibility for stable supply and excellent quality along with technical capability.”

He continued speaking in a lively voice.

“I think the era where one side simply designs and the other manufactures has passed. True competitiveness can only be possessed when the entire process of processing technology, production efficiency, and quality management is connected in real-time.”

He lifted his gaze for a moment and looked at the U.S. side officials.

“RE Electronics wishes to handle one axis of that connection. If the U.S. 's design technical capability and Korea’s manufacturing capability are connected as one, that alone can stabilize the world market.”

The inside of the meeting room became quiet.

Director Leonard wrote down something diligently.

President Ryu Ji-heon continued his words.

“Specifically, I would like to jointly develop high-reliability semiconductors used in the automobile, aviation, and defense fields. Until now, each country verified products by its own standards, but in the future, we will change it to a structure where both countries jointly certify and jointly manage quality. If that happens, the supply chain will not waver in any crisis situation.”

As the translation ended, Joanne asked first.

“This is not something to be thought of simply.”

At her words, Leonard nodded his head shortly and said.

“It is an interesting proposal. If such a joint certification system is possible, there are certainly advantages for us as well. However, I would like to ask one thing.”

His gaze headed toward President Ryu Ji-heon.

“RE Electronics is based in factories in Korea. If so, do you have the intention to build production facilities or joint test lines within the U.S.?”

In an instant, the air of the meeting room filled minutely with tension.

However, there was no wavering in President Ryu Ji-heon’s expression.

He caught his breath calmly and spoke with an expression full of confidence.

“Of course. We are already proceeding with discussions on some parts. RE Electronics is establishing a plan to establish a small-scale but high-reliability test line using local U.S. research institutions and manufacturing infrastructure. I hope we put on that first button together in this discussion.”

As the translation ended, Joanne looked at President Ryu Ji-heon while showing interest.

Director Leonard spoke while slowly nodding his head.

“Good, President Ryu. I think it is the most concrete vision among the stories I heard today.”

The air inside the meeting room began to stabilize again.

After that, the moderator grabbed the microphone to introduce the next speaker.

“Thank you, President Ryu. Next, Vice Chairman Jeong Han-seo of Nexel Bites will speak.”

Vice Chairman Jeong Han-seo quietly pulled the microphone toward himself.

Dressed in a dark navy suit, he opened his mouth while wearing a calm expression.

“I am Jeong Han-seo of Nexel Bites.”

After a short greeting, he looked around for a moment.

“The stable supply system that President Ryu just mentioned is also a very important task for design-centered companies like us.”

He continued speaking while slightly turning over the prepared documents.

“Our Nexel Bites is specialized in semiconductor design and application stages, especially high-speed operation structures and low-power processor design. What I wish to propose through this place today is not simply a cooperation to make semiconductors, but the establishment of a joint development ecosystem that leads from design to verification and mass production.”

The translation device flickered and the words he spoke were translated exactly.

“Currently, it is a structure where most semiconductor design takes place in the U.S. and mass production is made in Asia. In this process, a waste of time and cost occurs and, above all, a gap in technology protection arises. We wish to propose a joint design team between the two countries to reduce that gap.”

Vice Chairman Jeong Han-seo lifted the water glass placed in front of him, took a sip, and then continued his words.

“For example, in the case of high-reliability chips used in aviation electronic systems or automobile ECU in which Korea’s micro-processing technology and the U.S.’s circuit design capability are combined, a much higher level of completion can be secured than what a single country makes.”

The air inside the meeting room became quiet again.

Vice Chairman Jeong Han-seo spoke plainly like his personality without exaggerating or using unnecessary flowery language.

“This is not a simple cooperation, but a structural innovation that can save time. Through joint design and joint certification, production reliability can be increased, and at the same time, concerns about technology leaks can be minimized. That is precisely the new form of partnership that we are proposing.”

He caught his breath for a moment and said.

“In fact, the reason I am making such a proposal is because of the problems I have personally experienced in the industry over the past few years.”

His gaze brushed over the documents for a moment.

Old memories came back vividly.

“As you know, every time a new semiconductor was developed, the design was done in the U.S., prototype verification was done in Korea, and mass production took place in a third country. On the surface, it seems as if roles were shared efficiently, but in actual fields, it was often repeated that design data was not reflected as it was in the mass production process, requiring repeated modifications. In the meantime, the verification schedule is delayed and development costs swell like a snowball.”

The inside of the meeting room became quiet.

In fact, since design data was managed while moving through several countries, the risk of technology leaks was also large.

Even if a problem occurred, it was not easy to track at which stage the error occurred.

In some cases, as certification standards differed from country to country, the inefficiency of a chip that had passed once having to be verified again also occurred.

Vice Chairman Jeong Han-seo spoke while pointing out such points.

“Ultimately, I think this is a problem of structure rather than a problem of technology. That is why we are proposing a joint design team and a joint certification line. A system where if design ends on one side, verification is possible immediately on the other side and quality data is shared in real-time. That is, I believe that if that structure is merely completed, reliability can be secured as well as time and cost.”

The translation device flickered and Vice Chairman Jeong Han-seo’s words were conveyed.

To the extent where even Joanne Madison nodded her head.

Perhaps what he said precisely pointed out the loopholes in cooperation between countries.

Although he spoke calmly, it was to the extent that even the people inside the meeting room recalled structural problems they had been missing.

After a brief silence flowed, Director Leonard wore a quiet smile.

“Vice Chairman, in fact, we are experiencing similar problems. Design proceeds in California, but mass production takes place in factories in Taiwan or Singapore. The time loss and standard inconsistency that occur as data moves back and forth in that process were always a headache.”

Joanne Madison, sitting next to him, immediately took up the words.

“Especially for aviation and defense semiconductors, a single small error leads to a risk for the entire system. If a real-time verification and joint certification system were established as Vice Chairman Jeong said, it would be much more stable.”

She thought for a moment and then turned her head to look at Leonard.

“In order for this structure to be realized, how to adjust data access rights and security protocols will be the core.”

Leonard chimed in while wearing a smile.

“Correct. If both countries share design, certification, and production flows, we will be able to build a technology trust system together beyond a supply chain.”

A gentle murmuring spread through the meeting room again.

Everyone was catching a glimpse of realistic possibilities.

Director Leonard said while organizing the documents placed on the table.

“Good. Based on the content discussed today, we will form a team including technical working-level staff starting next week. If the representatives of RE Electronics and Nexel Bites participate together, we will sufficiently be able to derive a realistic plan.”

After that, the moderator spoke while turning their gaze.

“Next, Acting Chairman Lim Hye-seon of Taeseong Group will give her opinion.”

Lim Hye-seon calmly pulled her body forward from her seat.

Her clear voice echoed inside the quiet meeting room.

“I have listened with interest to the proposals presented by several companies today. In particular, I think the discussion on cooperation in the semiconductor field has important meaning for both countries.”

She stopped speaking for a moment and smiled toward the U.S. side officials.

“However, I believe that technological cooperation should not end as a simple transaction between one or two companies. For a supply chain to be stable, the materials, parts, equipment, and personnel exchange that support its roots must move together.”

Joanne raised her head slightly.

Lim Hye-seon calmly added an explanation in succession.

“Taeseong Group currently operates production bases and logistics networks in both countries, Korea and the U.S. I think the role we can take is not simple parts supply, but the role of connecting the foundation so that all this technological cooperation can actually function.”

At her words, Director Leonard nodded his head and asked.

“That is an interesting perspective. Specifically, what form of support do you have in mind?”

Lim Hye-seon replied while catching her breath for a moment.

“For example, if both countries establish research centers together and facilities where new technologies can be trial-produced are created, Taeseong will stably supply that equipment and materials and, if necessary, even support local personnel education together.”

She continued her words.

“Because no matter how much technology stays ahead, if the system is not established in the field where it moves, it cannot be called a true alliance.”

Lim Hye-seon’s words echoed throughout the meeting room through the translation device.

In the quiet atmosphere, the gazes of several U.S. side officials focused on her.

“In fact, our Taeseong Group has been reviewing the expansion of production infrastructure within the U.S. since a few years ago. Currently, a plan to establish a Taeseong Electronics semiconductor packaging factory in the Southern California region is in progress, and this is being designed as a complex base where research, verification, and mass production are connected, rather than a simple production facility.”

Lim Hye-seon calmly continued the explanation.

“This factory is not for the purpose of churning out a single product. It will be a demonstration line where partner companies such as RE Electronics and Nexel Bites, which I mentioned earlier, can proceed with joint research and test the results in the actual market.”

“Taeseong Electronics has a plan to weave materials procurement and quality certification systems with local partners into one organic ecosystem while supporting that process.”

Her voice was calm but firm.

“Ultimately, a technology alliance is not completed with one part or one design. I think it is a matter of creating the soil where that technology will function together.”

As the translation ended, Director Leonard wore a smile as if satisfied.

“Taeseong Group’s plan is very impressive. Companies that have proposed this kind of complex base within the U.S. are rare.”

Acting Chairman Lim Hye-seon smiled calmly.

“Thank you. I hope this place today becomes that starting point.”

The moderator announced the next turn.

“Thank you, Acting Chairman Lim Hye-seon. Next, President Nam Yoon-kyung of Daehan Group will speak.”