From Jan. 27 to 30, the 33rd Korean Conference on Semiconductors (KCS) was held. This year’s theme, “A Paradigm Shift in Semiconductors for AI Era,” focused on the future direction of Korea’s semiconductor industry in the AI era. I participated in KCS for two main reasons: to present my research at the undergraduate poster session and to explore various research fields while networking with others at one of Korea’s largest semiconductor conferences.
Sharing My Research at the Undergraduate Poster Session
Since the fall semester of 2025, I have been conducting research in a semiconductor device research lab, and I had the opportunity to present my research at the undergraduate poster session of KCS. To present at the session, I first had to submit a one-page abstract. In this session, most abstracts are accepted if they clearly describe their own research. After my abstract was accepted, I spent the winter semester organizing my experimental results and conducting further analysis to prepare my poster.
The undergraduate poster session took place on the first day of the conference. The format involved putting up the poster in a designated area and explaining the research to other students and professors during the presentation time. It was a valuable experience to explain my specific research topic to people from different areas of the broad semiconductor field and to engage in-depth discussions during Q&A. Additionally, it was a great experience to look around at posters of undergraduate students from other universities, identify the core of their research, and ask the presenters questions.
A Hub for Knowledge and Career Growth
KCS is a place where everyone involved in semiconductor research comes together. Therefore, even students who have not started their own research yet can gain a lot from attending the conference. Notably, the 2026 KCS hosted an undergraduate talk concert session on the first evening, titled “From Lab to Fab: Everything About Semiconductor Career.” Undergraduate semiconductor students received practical advice on graduate school, job applications, and workplace realities from senior engineers working in the semiconductor industry at companies including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.
The keynote speeches were another major highlight. Hyeongjoon KIM, Head of the Next Generation Intelligence Semiconductor Foundation, and Sunghyun PARK, CEO of Rebellions, shared their insights. Their presentations were impressive because they not only introduced the current state of semiconductor technology but also outlined future directions. The presentations provided a valuable opportunity to consider the direction Korea’s semiconductor industry should take in the AI era. The evening Rump Session covered more specific topics, providing an open forum for discussion on AI semiconductors with four panelists, who are leading experts in the field. Unlike traditional sessions that consist mainly of lectures with only a few questions, it was impressive that the participants actively joined the discussion and exchanged their opinions.
KCS is open to anyone interested in semiconductors. As a valuable gathering that brings together many semiconductor experts from across the country every year, participating in this event can be a great asset. For students who are curious about career paths in the semiconductor field or what to study and research in the AI era, KCS will provide the best answer.
