On October 24th, Korean media reported that Samsung Electronics, which is committed to developing the most advanced semiconductor foundry process, is adjusting its strategic direction and will expand its investment in "traditional and distinctive" processes.

　　It is reported that Samsung Electronics' semiconductor foundry division is adjusting its strategic direction to expand investment in "traditional and specialty" processes. The plan is to increase the number of traditional and specialty processes by more than 10 by 2024. Looking ahead, by 2027, Samsung Electronics' capacity for traditional and specialty processes is expected to reach 2.3 times that of 2018.

　　It is reported that semiconductor foundry processes are roughly divided into three categories: the most advanced process, the traditional process, and the specialty process, each with its own characteristics and targeted areas. Specifically, the most advanced process produces ultra-small, high-performance, and low-power semiconductor devices such as application processors (AP) for smartphones; the traditional process manufactures non-miniaturized automotive semiconductors, sensors, and other devices; while the specialty process is a modified version of the traditional process tailored to specific customer requirements. The industry's response to Samsung's move is that it is a strategy to seize market share by encroaching on the "territory" of competing companies.

　　It is worth mentioning that recently Samsung Electronics released its Q3 earnings guidance. According to preliminary estimates, the company's sales for Q3 this year were KRW 76 trillion, with an operating profit of KRW 10.8 trillion. Although the sales increased by 2.7% compared to the same period last year, setting a new record for the highest Q3 sales in history, the operating profit decreased by 31.7% YoY.