Samil, a Korean yarn spinning leader established in 1979, has been ramping up its competitiveness in the global market through continuous technology innovation and product portfolio diversification.
Samil’s recent acquisition and refurbishment of a U.S. facility in Georgia has allowed it to evolve into a high-tech yarn production center.
The company has also been accelerating efforts to localize defense industry textiles and implement global textile platform strategies.
In an interview with a vernacular news outlet, Samil Chmn. Roh Hee-chan said, “The Georgia facility serves as a strategic center to secure competitiveness through benefits of U.S. tariff policies and local demand it’s not a simple overseas production center.”
He elaborated on the difficulties Samil had endured in the course of replacing and refurbishing equipment and implementing a product transition, the establishment of a cooperative regime with the Korean defense material sector, and Korea’s roles as an Asian textile center, as well as Korea’s hosting of the 4th Dornbirn GFC-ASIA in Busan last April.
Chmn. Roh said, “The Georgia plant has been not designated as a simple overseas production center, and in consideration of the recent Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations, ’Made in USA’ is important in areas, such as defense demand and industrial safety flame retardant yarn sector.”
If Korea produces items and exports them to the United States, he said, it is evitable for the company to see its price competitiveness decline due to tariffs; on the other hand, it is a strategic choice to use local production in the United States.
Chmn. Roh said Samil suffered difficulties in terms of equipment and manpower in the initial stage since a majority of the equipment at the U.S. facility was outdated by 20 to 60 years. Samil had to opt for a lengthy replacement process with the plant in operation.
The step added time for stabilization by a factor of two or three-fold, he said.
For Samil, manpower issues were more challenging than expected, Chmn. Roh said.
“U.S. workers have strong responsibility for their job, but they tend to be conservative when it comes to new equipment and process changes, so more time was required to become stabilized.
In order to overcome the issues, Samil introduced educational programs and Korean technology officials teamed up with U.S. counterparts to implement technology transition and stabilize processes, he said.
Consequently, the Georgia facility, enduring initial hardships, has established itself with a strategically competitive edge, well beyond being a simple overseas production center.
As for equipment replacement, production transition, and market strategies, Chmn. Roh said that equipment replacement does not guarantee competitiveness.
“In the past, Samil was a factory centered on fashion yarn and we have changed into a company prioritizing flame retardant, military demand, industrial safety and functional yarns, and in particular, ‘Made in USA’ demand for Lenzing FR, military demand, firefighting and industry RD fibers is high,” he said.
Product transition was a process of creating a new market from scratch, not simply changing items.
It took lots of time to conduct quality tests to obtain trust from new markets, obtain certifications and build local network.
A poster to promote ultraviolet camouflage combat uniform, made with “NevurN,” a specialized yarn developed by Samil.
From a strategic perspective, the Georgia facility has secured a stable demand base for military and industry safety. Georgia has warm weather and better living conditions for workers, thanks to lower living costs.
The infrastructure, expanded by investments of large-sized companies like SK Innovation, such as Korean food and living services, has had a good impact on stabilizing of local staff of the facility and improving production efficiency.
Samil Participates in Preview in Daegu 2026
The 24th "Preview in Daegu (PID) 2026" will take place at the Deagu Exhibition & Convention Center (EXCO) from March 4 to March 6.
It is hosted by Daegu City and Gyeongsangbuk-do and organized by the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Textile Association.
PID 2026 is being held under the theme “RE:BOOT,” meaning the heralding of a new beginning of the regional textile industry.
It will showcase a variety of items, ranging from eco-friendly/high tech advanced materials to sport functionality, smart textile machinery and AI fashion tech.
In order to ramp up global business competitiveness, more famous buyers have been invited. Global premium brands, such as Patagonia of the United States, Lululemon of Canada, Timberland of the United States, Burberry of the UK, Haglöfs of Sweden, Descent of Japan and Li-Ning of China are expected to participate in the fair.
About 270 Korean exhibitors, including Samil specializing in eco-friendly and functional yarn and textiles, Onechang, an outdoor company, and Taehyun TFC, will participate in PID 2026. Exhibitors from six countries, including China, Taiwan and India, are taking part in the exhibition.
Samil Strikes MOU with KOSAF to Ramp Up High School Graduates’ Working Capabilities
Korea Student Aid Foundation (KOSAF) signed an MOU with Samil to ramp up high school graduates’ working capabilities and industry field connectivity at Samil headquarters in Gyeongsan, Gyeongsangbuk-do, last June 5.
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