By Jung Joo-ri

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Dec. 10 said, "As competition between countries and regions intensifies to gain hegemony over emerging technologies, the semiconductor industry is strategically more important than ever before, which makes this visit to the Netherlands especially meaningful."

The day before his state visit to the Netherlands, he told the French news agency AFP in a written interview, "Semiconductors are the linchpin of Korea-Netherlands cooperation," adding, "The global semiconductor industry's stable and sustainable growth is in the core interest of both countries."

On the afternoon of Dec. 12 in the Dutch town of Veldhoven, President Yoon will visit the headquarters of ASML, a key supplier to semiconductor makers, with Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won. They will tour the company's "cleanroom," with the president to be the first foreign leader to visit the facility.

AFP quoted President Yoon as saying, "The Netherlands is home to ASML, which produces the lithography equipment that makes semiconductors, and for years the two countries have worked together 'in an exemplary manner,'" adding, "(This) will mark a crucial turning point for the Korea-Netherlands semiconductor alliance."

"As semiconductors emerge as strategic assets in terms of industry, technology and security, geopolitical risks surrounding global supply chains are expanding," he added. "(This visit to the Netherlands will help both countries) establish a well-organised institutional framework that will intensively address global semiconductor supply chains."

President Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee's state visit to the Netherlands from Dec. 11-14 starts with a welcoming ceremony hosted by the Dutch royal couple, followed by a state dinner, visit to ASML headquarters, bilateral summit with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, visiting the Ridderzaal (Hall of Knights) in The Hague, where the the Second Hague Peace Conference was held 116 years ago, and the Yi Jun Peace Museum.

This trip is the first of its kind for a Korean leader since both sides formed diplomatic ties in 1961.

etoilejr@korea.kr