<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-26</periodOfReport><issuer><issuerCik>0001047127</issuerCik><issuerName>AMKOR TECHNOLOGY INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMKR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001158839</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>KIM JAMES J</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Options to Purchase Common Stock (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>12.4</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-26</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>250000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-06-26</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-06-26</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Amkor Technology, Inc. Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>250000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>250000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The option grant vests as follows: 25% of the option shares are exercisable 12 months after the grant date; 1/48th of the option shares become exercisable each month thereafter.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Kevin J. Heron - By Power of Attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-30</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

