Merck to invest $632 million in Korea by 2025

Merck Korea's Delivery Systems & Services business facilities, located in Ansan, Gyeonggi. [MERCK]

German science and technology giant Merck’s executive vice president Katherine Dei Cas visited the company's facilities in Ansan, Gyeonggi on Wednesday to discuss future Korean investment with the leadership team there and meet customers.

With the visit of De Cais, who is also the head of the Delivery Systems & Services (DS&S) business unit within the electronics business sector, Merck has been reviewing its facilities, conducting customer meetings and expanding production to meet expected demand in the semiconductor industry.

Merck plans to invest 600 million euros ($632 million) into Korea by 2025, including part of the investment from the acquisition of thin film material company M Chemicals in 2022.

Merck's DS&S business, which provides delivery equipment and storage of specialized chemicals and gases, plans to support more global customers in both Korea and the recently opened Arizona site in the United States, in a move expected to drive growth for the semiconductor industry.

“The global semiconductor market’s long-term outlook is strong and so is our commitment to purposefully expand our capacities and services in the immediate vicinity of our customers,” said De Cais.

“We’re excited about the growth trajectory of our Delivery Systems and Services business and looking to take Merck's confidence and business capabilities to a new level in the future of the electronics industry through the investment being reviewed in Korea, following the opening of our new site in Arizona last week,” she added.

BY KIM JU-YEON [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]