South Korea plans eight homegrown on-device AI chips by 2030

South Korea wants its AI to stop phoning home. The government plans to develop eight domestic AI chips and two semiconductor design intellectual property (IP) assets by 2030, all built to run artificial intelligence directly on devices rather than on distant servers.

The target list reads like a sci-fi catalog: autonomous vehicles, smart home appliances, humanoid robots and drones.

What Seoul actually announced

The plan is called the K-On-Device AI Semiconductor Technology Development Project. South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) unveiled the roadmap on November 12, 2026.

The budget is 800.2 billion won, which works out to around $578–600 million. That money is meant to cultivate and validate eight locally produced on-device AI chips plus two chip design IPs by the end of the decade.

The initiative targets key industries including automotive, home appliances, robotics and defense.

Samsung opens the factory doors

Samsung Electronics has agreed to prioritize foundry support so domestic companies can produce AI chip prototypes on schedule. That support includes access to Samsung’s 2-nanometer advanced process.

Specifically, Samsung’s foundry division is committing 21 prototype production slots in 2027. Three of those slots are dedicated to 2nm-class processes.

The roadmap leans on collaboration with local fabless companies, meaning firms that design chips but outsource the actual manufacturing. Those designers are expected to work alongside partners in the automotive, appliance and defense sectors.

The roadmap was presented at the 2026 second-half AI Semiconductor M.AX Alliance meeting in Seoul. Approximately 150 stakeholders from industry, academia and research organizations attended.

Part of a bigger national push

This project does not exist in isolation. It fits inside South Korea’s broader “Three Mega Projects” initiative, which targets semiconductors, AI and robotics together.

It also builds on earlier government efforts in 2026 and a large-scale public-private partnership led by Samsung and SK Group.

The roadmap’s emphasis on early commercial application stands out. Rather than funding research that may sit on a shelf, the plan pushes for chips that get tested in actual products. The strict timelines signal a shift toward application-specific semiconductors, meaning chips tailored for a particular job rather than general-purpose processors trying to do everything.

What this means for chipmakers and industry

For South Korea’s fabless chip designers, the most valuable piece may not be the cash. It is guaranteed production capacity. Advanced manufacturing slots are scarce, and a small design house can struggle to secure time on cutting-edge lines. Having Samsung commit 21 prototype slots in 2027 gives these firms a defined path from drawing board to physical chip.

There are execution risks worth tracking. Only three of the 21 prototype slots are reserved for 2nm-class processes, so most of the early prototypes will be produced on other nodes.

The key milestones to watch are clear enough. First, whether the 2027 prototype runs happen on schedule. Second, which fabless firms land the 2nm slots and what products they target. Third, whether the eight chips and two design IPs actually reach validation by 2030.