Manufacturers’ experience: During the pandemic, IT demand surged, prompting manufacturers to undertake massive investments.
In Samsung’s case, construction progressed rapidly on land that had already been prepared in Pyeongtaek. With a tight schedule of 2–3 years, the company accepted high night-shift premiums and mobilized up to 60,000 workers per day, operating around the clock in three shifts. Annual expenditures exceeded USD 50 billion.
However, as the cycle began to wind down, problems of oversupply and declining demand emerged. From late 2022 through early 2024, manufacturers were forced to endure operating losses. These experiences and challenges constitute the underlying anxieties that manufacturers continue to carry.