SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The world's largest chip maker Intel Corp. said Friday it has decided to close down its research and development (R&D) center in South Korea as a step to implement the company's restructuring plan.

    "The decision, which was made two days earlier, is part of the company's restructuring efforts," Intel Korea spokeswoman Joo Yang-ye said.

    According to Joo, the 20 researchers working at the center, mostly South Koreans, will seek new jobs at Intel in accordance with its redeployment program. However, if they fail to find a new work within three months, they will have to leave the company with compensation.

    Intel has operated a 20-member R&D center in Bundang, south of Seoul, since 2004 to cooperate with the South Korean government in researching digital home and next-generation communications technologies.