South Korea approved regulatory changes on Tuesday that will significantly shorten the time required to deploy extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment used in advanced semiconductor manufacturing, cutting inspection timelines from 34 days to nine days. The amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the High-Pressure Gas Safety Control Act reclassifies EUV systems from high-pressure gas manufacturing facilities to “specific equipment,” reducing both administrative procedures and compliance costs. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources estimates the changes could save companies about $329,000 (500 million won) in inspection costs per machine while shortening deployment times by up to 25 days.

The ministry