KEC

What KEC does

KEC is a South Korea-based power semiconductor manufacturer founded in 1969 as part of Korea Electronics Holdings, with the semiconductor division spun off as a standalone entity in 2006 and listed on the Korea Exchange (KRX:015760) under KEC Holdings. The company designs and manufactures discrete power semiconductors — including IGBTs (notably 1200V/30A Trench Field Stop process parts for EV battery disconnect units), MOSFETs (high-voltage, low-voltage, and S-MOSFETs), bipolar transistors, and a range of diodes and rectifiers including Silicon Carbide (SiC) Schottky Barrier Diodes — alongside power management integrated circuits such as 3-phase gate drivers (including a first-in-Korea Bootstrap Diode integrated 600V gate driver), linear regulators, PWM controllers, and DC/DC switchers. The product portfolio is automotive-qualified to AEC-Q100 and AEC-Q101 with ISO7637-2 surge protection in several product families.

KEC serves four application segments: automotive/EV (the primary segment, addressing IGBT modules, gate drivers, low-voltage MOSFETs for vehicle electronics, infotainment, and ADAS), consumer electronics (motor drive MOSFETs and gate driver ICs for home appliances), industrial equipment (power discretes, IGBT, and Super Junction MOSFET for industrial motors), and wired/wireless communications infrastructure. Commercial revenue is generated through direct B2B hardware sales to OEMs and through channel distribution; the company's primary global channel partner is Arrow Asia Pacific, which covers 13 Asia Pacific countries with access to 18,000+ manufacturers. Manufacturing is concentrated at the Gumi Industrial Complex in Gumi, South Korea — the first tenant site when established in 1969 — with ongoing KRW 200 billion capacity expansion announced in 2021 targeting 8-inch IGBT production.

The company has navigated a major restructuring: after peaking at approximately KRW 450 billion in annual revenue and roughly 3,000 employees around 2000, it entered emergency management around 2010, subsequently operating at approximately KRW 220 billion in revenue and around 650 employees. The 2021 'Vision 2025' initiative, anchored by the KRW 200 billion Gumi investment and the Arrow distribution partnership, positions KEC as pursuing a 'second leap' to global automotive and industrial power semiconductor relevance. Multiple 2020-2021 design wins at US EV, Russian, and global EV manufacturers, plus a 5-year contract covering 30 million+ units of gate driver IC and IGBT for a Korean home appliance customer, indicate active commercial traction during this repositioning phase.

Name

KEC

Legal name

KEC Corporation

Website

https://keccorp.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

KEC is a South Korean power semiconductor manufacturer founded in 1969, producing IGBTs, MOSFETs, SiC Schottky diodes, and power management ICs for automotive, industrial, consumer electronics, and telecommunications OEMs. The company sells directly and via Arrow Asia Pacific across 13 APAC countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Power Semiconductor Sales: KEC generates revenue through the sale of power semiconductor components including IGBT, MOSFET, diodes, and integrated circuits to automotive, consumer electronics, and industrial manufacturers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

KEC designs, manufactures, and sells power semiconductor discrete components and integrated circuits for automotive, industrial, consumer electronics, and telecommunications applications. Its portfolio spans IGBTs, MOSFETs, diodes (including SiC Schottky Diodes), bipolar transistors, and power management ICs such as gate drivers, linear regulators, and DC/DC switchers. KEC also provides Solution Evaluation Boards for design verification.

Product overview

KEC (Korean Electronics Corporation) is a power semiconductor company established in 1969, specializing in discrete components and integrated circuits for automotive, industrial, consumer electronics, and wired/wireless applications. The product portfolio consists of multiple interconnected product lines: Diodes & Rectifiers (including SiC Schottky Diodes), Bipolar Transistors, IGBTs, MOSFETs, Amplifiers & Comparators, and Power Management ICs (including Gate Drivers, Linear Regulators, PWM Controllers, and DC/DC Switchers). The company also provides technical support through Solution Evaluation Boards. KEC serves major Korean and global automotive manufacturers (supplying AEC-Q certified products), home appliance makers, and industrial equipment companies, positioning as a comprehensive power semiconductor solution provider for motor drive and power management applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Diodes & Rectifier Power semiconductor diodes including Switching Diode, Zener Diode, Schottky Barrier Diode, Protection Diode, Fast Recovery Diode, and SiC Schottky Diodes for power management and protection applications.
• Bipolar Transistors Bipolar junction transistors including Complex Transistor, Darlington Transistor, Digital Transistor (BRTs), and General Purpose Bipolar Transistors for switching and amplification applications.
• IGBTs (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors) Power IGBT products including 1200V Trench Field Stop process IGBTs with 30A current rating for EV battery systems, BDU applications, and automotive electronics. AEC-Q certified for automotive reliability.
• MOSFETs Metal-Oxide Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors including High Voltage MOSFET, Low Voltage MOSFET, and S-MOSFET for power switching and motor control. Includes 100V-grade Trench MOSFET products for LCD T-CON boards.
• Amplifiers & Comparators Integrated circuits including Comparators and Operational Amplifiers for signal conditioning and industrial applications.
• Power Management ICs Power management integrated circuits including CMOS Reset IC, Gate Drivers (including 3-phase Gate Driver ICs), Linear Regulators, Voltage Detectors, PWM Controllers, DC/DC Switcher ICs, and Transistor Arrays for power conversion and management.
• SiC Schottky Diodes Silicon Carbide Schottky Barrier Diodes for high-efficiency power applications with reduced switching losses and higher temperature tolerance.
• High Voltage 3-phase Gate Driver IC (KIB2642F) High voltage 3-phase gate driver IC for motor drive applications in electric vehicles and industrial equipment.
• LDO KIC3244F00 Series Automotive-grade Low Drop Out (LDO) voltage regulator with adjustable output voltage (1.2V-5.0V), AEC-Q100 certified for ADAS and infotainment systems.
• Bootstrap Diode Integrated Gate Driver IC First-in-Korea 3-Phase 600V Gate Driver IC with integrated Bootstrap Diode, designed for home appliance motor control with overcurrent protection and UVLO.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5-year supply contract for 30 million+ units of Gate Driver IC and IGBT solutions for refrigerator applications
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Arrow Asia PacificcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 April 2021KEC signed distribution agreement with Arrow Asia Pacific, the world's largest electronic components and IT solutions distributor. Arrow operates 70 distribution channels across 13 countries serving 18,000+ manufacturers and customers. This is described as the first Korean semiconductor manufacturer to have a global contract with Arrow. Arrow will promote and sell KEC products across APAC including China, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and India.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Vishay Intertechnology: Manufacturer of discrete semiconductors (MOSFETs, diodes, rectifiers) and passive components for automotive, industrial, and consumer applications. Closely comparable discrete semiconductor product set to KEC's Diodes & Rectifier and MOSFET lines.
• Alpha & Omega Semiconductor: Designer and supplier of power semiconductors including MOSFETs, IGBTs, and power ICs for consumer electronics, computing, and automotive applications. Closely comparable discrete power semiconductor product line and end-market exposure to KEC.
• Diodes Incorporated: US-based discrete semiconductor manufacturer offering MOSFETs, diodes, bipolar transistors, and power management ICs. Directly comparable product portfolio mix to KEC's discrete business across consumer, industrial, and automotive segments.
• Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage: Japanese power semiconductor manufacturer with discrete MOSFETs, IGBTs, and automotive-grade power devices competing directly with KEC in APAC automotive and industrial motor drive markets. Highly comparable on technology positioning and customer overlap.
• Rohm Semiconductor: Japanese power semiconductor specialist known for SiC diodes and MOSFETs, gate driver ICs, and discrete products. Directly comparable to KEC's SiC Schottky diodes, IGBT modules, and integrated gate driver ICs for EV and industrial applications.

Regional players

• Magnachip Semiconductor: Korean-headquartered semiconductor manufacturer focused on power discretes, MOSFETs, and analog products for consumer, industrial, and automotive markets. Most direct Korean regional peer to KEC in terms of geography, scale, and product mix.

Broad incumbents

• Infineon Technologies: Global market leader in power semiconductors including IGBT, MOSFET, and SiC discrete and module products for automotive and industrial applications. Directly comparable to KEC's power discrete and gate driver portfolio across the same end markets.
• onsemi (ON Semiconductor): Major supplier of power discretes, IGBTs, MOSFETs, and SiC devices for automotive and industrial markets with broad AEC-Q qualified portfolio. KEC's power discrete and gate driver portfolio targets the same design-in sockets at Korean and APAC customers.
• Microchip Technology: Diversified analog and mixed-signal semiconductor supplier with power management, MOSFET, and gate driver offerings for industrial and automotive markets. Comparable power management IC and discrete portfolio within a broader MCU/analog lineup.
• Mitsubishi Electric (Semiconductor): Major manufacturer of IGBT modules and power semiconductors for industrial motor drives and EV powertrains. Comparable to KEC at the high-end IGBT module layer, though KEC's focus is more on discrete and IC-level products.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kecsemi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KEC