Semiconductor devices having self-aligned contact pads and methods of manufacturing the same

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method comprising:

• forming a field area that defines active areas in a substrate;
• forming gate trenches that extend in a first direction in the substrate;
• forming buried gates in the gate trenches;
• forming gate capping fences in the gate trenches on a respective buried gate, the gate capping fences protruding from top surfaces of the active areas and extending in the first direction;
• forming line-shaped pad patterns self-aligned with the gate capping fences and extending in the first direction on the substrate;
• forming contact pads and bit line trenches by patterning a part of the pad patterns and the gate capping fences to expose at least some areas of the substrate between adjacent gate capping fences, wherein a respective contact pad is formed on the substrate between the adjacent bit line trenches and a respective bit line trench extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
• forming a bit line in a respective bit line trench;
• and
• forming a lower electrode of a capacitor on a respective contact pad.