Professor Sang-mo Koo (Electronic Materials Engineering) Announces National
‘Next-Generation Power Semiconductor Promotion Roadmap’ 

Professor Sang-mo Koo (Head of the Promotion Group) delivering a presentation at the
‘2026 Next-Generation Power Semiconductor Promotion Group Forum.’​

Hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and co-managed by the Korea Planning & Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT), the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association (KSIA), and the Korea Semiconductor Industry Cooperative (COSAR), the forum saw the participation of major government bodies including the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Financial Services Commission, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, and the Ministry of Planning and Budget. The event was a resounding success, bringing together over 120 key representatives from industry, academia, research institutes, and the government. 

As the head of the ‘Next-Generation Power Semiconductor Promotion Group,’ Professor Koo unveiled the roadmap focusing on compound power semiconductors like Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN). These materials offer significantly higher efficiency in high-temperature and high-voltage environments compared to traditional Silicon (Si).

Professor Koo presented technological development goals for each stage of the value chain—from materials to devices and equipment—focusing on six core demand sectors, including energy grids and AI infrastructure. He identified 2026 as a critical inflection point in the reorganization of the global supply chain, driven by the acceleration of the transition to 8-inch wafer mass production. He emphasized the intense pursuit of key development tasks for compound semiconductors, which are essential components for advanced industries such as xEVs (electrified vehicles), AI data centers, and robotics.

To strengthen national infrastructure, Professor Koo announced the establishment of the ‘Southern Power Semiconductor Innovation Belt.’ This plan organically links:

 - Busan: A public fab hub for device manufacturing and verification.

 - Naju: Specialized in high-power evaluation and measurement.

 - Pohang: An "End-to-End" platform for complex processes.​ 

By proposing a blueprint for a cooperative ecosystem between public and private sectors—including private production fabs—the roadmap aims to more than double the technology self-sufficiency rate and the domestic production share of compound power semiconductors by 2032.

Professor Koo is currently overseeing the construction of the national power semiconductor industry ecosystem as the leader of the ‘One Team’ Promotion Group, which unites key companies in the supply chain, demand-side corporations, and institutional experts. He continues to demonstrate macro-level leadership in planning demand-linked R&D and coordinating national policies.