October 21, 2025 (Korea time),Hwang Chi-won, Executive Director and Head of the Package Development Team at Samsung Electro-Mechanics, received a Presidential Citation at the 20th Electronics and IT Day ceremony held at COEX in Seoul’s Gangnam District.

The award recognizes Hwang’s more than two decades of leadership in advanced semiconductor package substrate technologies, as well as his contributions to strengthening Korea’s materials and components competitiveness in the global semiconductor industry.

Since joining Samsung Electro-Mechanics in 2011, Hwang has spearheaded the development of next-generation packaging and manufacturing technologies, driving Korea’s technological self-reliance and enhancing the nation’s position in the global substrate market. Notably, he led the development of Korea’s first high-performance server semiconductor package substrate, which entered mass production for major global customers in 2022.

Hwang also pioneered several world-first technologies, including:

 ● Coreless substrates (removing the core layer for improved electrical performance),

 ● Embedded Si Cap substrates (integrating silicon capacitors within the package), and

 ● ARM-based CPU package substrates.

These innovations have advanced the performance, power efficiency, and yield of high-end semiconductor packaging while enhancing Samsung Electro-Mechanics’ technological, cost, and quality competitiveness.

Currently, Hwang is leading the expansion of new production facilities centered in Busan to improve responsiveness to global customers and boost manufacturing competitiveness. He is also driving the development of System-on-Substrate (SoS) technologies targeting future growth markets such as AI, cloud computing, and automotive electronics.

In his acceptance remarks, Hwang said, “This award is a meaningful recognition of Samsung Electro-Mechanics’ technological excellence in semiconductor package substrates. We will continue to advance high-performance substrate technologies that serve as the foundation for future industries like AI, cloud, and automotive.”

Electronics and IT Day was established in 2005 to commemorate Korea’s electronics and IT exports surpassing $100 billion. This year’s ceremony honored 41 industry contributors, including LG Electronics CEO Cho Joo-wan, who received the Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit, and Samyoung Electronics CEO Kim Sung-soo, who received the Silver Tower Order.