Lam Research appointed Kim Tae-won as head of its Korean operations on Friday, succeeding Park Joon-hong. Kim has more than 20 years of semiconductor-industry experience, specializing in chemical vapor deposition and etching, and joined Lam Research in 2008. He has held roles in productivity solutions, product deployment and process development within the company’s etch products group. Kim earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Seoul National University and a doctorate from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He will relocate from Fremont, California, to Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, and work with Park during the transition. Lam Research said Kim’s technical expertise, customer-focused leadership and ability to unite teams would support stronger partnerships with Korean customers and further growth and innovation. Park spent nearly 25 years at Lam Research and held senior roles including head of the Surface Integrity Group product portfolio in Fremont, regional chief technology officer and global customer account leader. During his tenure, the company strengthened relationships with major Korean chipmakers and expanded its Korean business.