Overview
- Executives signed the memorandum of understanding at a South Korea–U.S. business roundtable in Washington after the Lee–Trump summit.
- Under the framework, Lockheed Martin will purchase refined germanium produced outside China, North Korea, Iran and Russia.
- Korea Zinc plans a 140 billion‑won investment to build a germanium refinery at its Onsan Smelter in Ulsan with a first‑half 2028 start target.
- The planned facility is projected to produce about 10 tons per year of high‑purity germanium dioxide.
- Both companies will pursue negotiations on long‑term contracts in response to supply risks created by China’s export controls and market dominance.