Leeno Industrial

This is a fascinating look at Leeno Industrial, a true titan in the semiconductor backend industry. The text highlights how they shifted from a dependent supplier to a “Super Underdog” (Super-Eul) that global giants now rely on.
Here is the translation into English, maintaining the professional yet admiring tone of the original piece.
The “Super Underdog” of Semiconductors: The Rise of Leeno Industrial
“This is a place that would be perfectly fine even without Samsung Electronics or SK Hynix. In fact, it’s those giants who would feel the loss.” This statement from a semiconductor materials, components, and equipment (Sojang) industry insider perfectly encapsulates the status of Leeno Industrial. While most Korean suppliers are symbols of “rain-dependent management”—their survival tied entirely to the investment plans of domestic conglomerates—Leeno Industrial is regarded as a unique entity that has broken free from those shackles of dependency.
Commanding a client base of over 1,000 global companies—including Nvidia, Broadcom, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix—Leeno is the “Super Underdog” that global Big Tech firms line up for first when designing new products.
A Chronology of Technological Independence
Starting in a small factory in Busan in 1978, the history of Leeno Industrial is a saga of technological independence. CEO Lee Chae-yoon joined the Goldstar (now LG) Busan plant in 1969 after graduating from a technical high school. Two years later, he boldly resigned and started his own business making plastic bags with just 300,000 won in capital. He gained hands-on technical expertise across various industries, from headphone parts to camera cases.
Opportunity came by chance. While engaging with the local community, he spotted the potential in the semiconductor sector. He jumped into the precision machining of semiconductor parts by purchasing discarded second-hand machinery from Japan at low prices. It was the moment where the organizational systems he learned at a conglomerate met the grit he developed on the shop floor.
At the time, semiconductor testing pins and sockets were monopolized by developed nations, and they could charge whatever they wanted. Leeno Industrial entered the fray with a seemingly reckless management philosophy: “We will make what others don’t, and the products that currently depend entirely on imports.” They eventually succeeded in localizing test pins and sockets that had been 100% import-dependent. These test pins are consumable components that act as adapters, ensuring semiconductor testing equipment is compatible with various chips.
45 Years of Grit: Reaching the Pinnacle
For 45 years, Leeno has dug a single well. That persistence has blossomed into ultra-precision technology capable of producing test pins as thin as 0.075mm—thinner than a human hair (approx. 0.1mm). As semiconductors become smaller and more advanced, the value of these microscopic pins has skyrocketed. Today, the ‘LEENO PIN’ has become an irreplaceable brand in the global market, securing the world’s No. 1 position in both quality and delivery speed.
The Power of 100% In-House Production
There is no outsourcing at Leeno Industrial. Every step—from design, machining, and plating to assembly, and even the manufacturing of tools for parts production—is completed through a 100% in-house process. This capability guarantees on-time delivery and the fastest turnaround time in the market. This is the decisive reason why global Big Tech companies choose Leeno as their partner.
After listing on the KOSDAQ in 2001, Leeno Industrial was outside the top 100 in market capitalization even a decade ago. However, a major rally began in November 2019, propelling it to 13th place in 2021. As of 2026, it currently stands as the 8th largest company on the KOSDAQ by market cap.