Safety concerns amid lab expansion

The 78 percent increase in accidents occurred over a two-year period, according to the claim's underlying findings. University semiconductor labs, which handle hazardous chemicals and gases used in chip fabrication processes, have become a growing focus of safety oversight as the industry pushes to train more engineers.

The rise comes as Korean institutions scale up semiconductor-related programs, driven by demand from companies including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. Details on the specific causes of the accidents, the types of incidents involved, and any injuries were not available in the material reviewed.

The government body with jurisdiction over the sector, the Ministry of Science and ICT, has not been cited in connection with a specific policy response to the increase.

The claim stands up on the core figure, though the underlying context remains incomplete. The assertion that university semiconductor lab accidents rose 78 percent over two years is Mostly True.