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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1


                 [WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI LETTERHEAD]

                                August 30, 1999


Amkor Technology
1345 Enterprise Drive
West Chester, PA 19380

        RE:     REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8 -- 1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK
                PURCHASE PLAN, 1998 STOCK PLAN AND 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR
                FRENCH EMPLOYEES

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") to be filed by Amkor Technology, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company" or "you"), with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on or about August 30, 1999, in connection with the registration
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of (a) an aggregate of
399,129 additional shares (the "ESPP Shares") of your Common Stock reserved for
issuance pursuant to the Company's 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
"Purchase Plan"); (b) an aggregate of 3,721,100 additional shares (the "Plan
Shares") of your Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company's
1998 Stock Plan (the "Plan"); and (c) an aggregate of 68,600 additional shares
(the "French Plan Shares") of your Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant
to the Company's 1998 Stock Option Plan for French Employees (the "French
Plan"). As your legal counsel, we have reviewed the actions proposed to be taken
by you in connection with the proposed sale and issuance of the ESPP Shares, the
Plan Shares and the French Plan Shares by the Company under the Purchase Plan,
the Plan and the French Plan, respectively.

        It is our opinion that, upon completion of the actions being taken, or
contemplated by us as your counsel to be taken, by you prior to the issuance of
the ESPP Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement, and assuming that the
ESPP Shares are issued in accordance with the provisions of the Purchase Plan,
the ESPP Shares will be legally and validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable. Further, it is our opinion that, upon completion of the actions
being taken, or contemplated by us as your counsel to be taken, by you prior to
the issuance of the Plan Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement, and
assuming that the Plan Shares are issued in accordance with the provisions of
the Plan, the Plan Shares will be legally and validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable. Further, it is our opinion that, upon completion of the actions
being taken, or contemplated by us as your counsel to be taken, by you prior to
the issuance of the French Plan Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement,
and assuming that the French Plan Shares are issued in accordance with the
provisions of the French Plan, the French Plan Shares will be legally and
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.




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        We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and further consent to the use of our name wherever appearing in the
Registration Statement and any subsequent amendment thereto.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            /s/ Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

                                            WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                                            Professional Corporation