Samsung Becomes Key Partner for Nvidia's Vera Rubin, Eyes Foundry Turnaround
Samsung supplies HBM4 and produces Nvidia's Grok3 chip at over 80% yield, marking a turnaround for its loss-making foundry business.
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Samsung, SK Target Memory Bottleneck With Custom Design, 20-Layer Stacking
Samsung and SK hynix presented memory bottleneck fixes at Hot Chips 2026, as Samsung's record shareholder return plan pushed its shares down 8.70%.
AI Server Prices Hinge on Memory Costs as Nvidia Rack Prices Rise 17%
Nvidia will raise supply prices for its Grace Blackwell 300 and Vera Rubin 200 AI server racks by up to 17% early next year amid surging memory chip…
Samsung to See $130 Billion for Shareholder Returns Next Year on Chip Boom
Samsung Electronics confirmed up to 110 trillion won in shareholder returns, with funds projected to reach 188 trillion won next year on an AI chip boom.
Korea to Build 2 More Chip Fabs in Honam, Adding to 6-Plus Plan by 2040
Korea plans more Honam chip fabs while its 2040 power reprojection shows AI-driven demand far exceeding forecasts, and the KOSPI tops 6,800 on SK hynix's…
China Lifts H200 Ban as ByteDance, Tencent Each Secure 10,000 Chips
China has allowed Nvidia H200 imports, with ByteDance and Tencent each securing 10,000 chips, while Samsung and SK hynix shares fell sharply.
KOSPI Hits 7,200 Then Reverses on U.S. Yields, Oil
The KOSPI hit 7,216 intraday on the 18th but reversed to close at 6,869.83 as U.S. 30-year Treasury yields near 5.32% and rising oil prices weighed.
Citibank Korea Exit Faces Hurdle From 2,823 Minority Shareholders
Korea's $200 billion U.S. investment pledge hits snags before its first project, raising fears of higher tariffs if delayed, amid fiscal warnings and an…
SK hynix Weighs U.S. Chip Fabrication Plant, Chairman Warns of Memory Shortage
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won signals a U.S. memory fab review and warns of the worst memory supply imbalance next year, citing surging AI-driven demand.
Chinese AI Closes Gap With U.S. at 1/39th the Cost of Claude
Nine Chinese AI firms released 10 models in 70 days, closing in on U.S.
China Speeds Up Grip on Europe's EV Supply Chain, Targeting Germany
China's investment in Europe's EV supply chain jumped 2.5-fold to 7.1 billion euros by 2025, with most deals concentrated in Germany, as European…
SK hynix Resumes China Fab, Aims to Lift NAND Output 50%
SK hynix has resumed building its second Dalian fab to lift China NAND output 50%, as AI data centers drive an SSD demand surge and NAND prices climb.
China Turns to Stock Markets to Fund AI as CXMT Raises $9.8 Billion
China is raising funds for AI in its $28 trillion capital markets, with CXMT's $9.8 billion listing and state investors propping up the market.
SK hynix Labor Talks Stall Over Paying Bonuses in Company Stock
SK hynix labor talks stall over paying bonuses in company stock, raising concerns over HBM4 output as Samsung hits an 80% "golden yield."
SK hynix Bets 54 Trillion Won on Yongin, Cheongju Chip Fabs
SK hynix resolved to invest 54.3 trillion won in its Yongin Y2 and Cheongju M17 chip fabs, accelerating its mega-investment to strengthen DRAM and NAND supply leadership.
"Sharing Chip Profits Will Cost Korea the Race," Warns Industry Minister
Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan warned that socially distributing chip profits from Samsung and SK hynix would cost Korea the semiconductor race, citing China's CXMT investments.
Samsung Unveils Next-Gen HBM, Reshaping AI Memory Landscape
Samsung Electronics unveiled 'zHBM,' the world's first 3D structure stacking HBM on top of a GPU, at FMS 2026, promising up to 8x performance gains over HBM5 for AI chips.
Big Tech AI Spending Tops 1,260 Trillion Won; Microsoft Gains as Google, Meta Waver
The world's nine largest cloud providers' 2025 capital spending is set to reach $886.7 billion, up 90%, as Microsoft beats expectations while Google and Meta waver.
Samsung's HBM Contract Secret: Prices Fall, But It Stays Protected
Samsung Electronics secured the most favorable memory LTA terms, capping price cuts at 5% per quarter with no limit on increases, positioning it for strong H2 earnings.
Samsung Electro-Mechanics Fast-Tracks AI MLCC Plant to Boost Nvidia Supply
Samsung Electro-Mechanics fast-tracks its new Philippines MLCC plant to Q1 next year to supply high-capacity AI MLCC for Nvidia's next-generation accelerators, with CAPEX set to double to 6 trillion won.
Tesla China Spin-Off Reports Surface; Musk Says "Never Discussed"
Elon Musk denies WSJ report that Tesla is weighing a split of its China operations from U.S. business, while China narrows the AI model gap with the U.S. to 2.7%.
Samsung Tops Global Profit Rankings on HBM4, Beating Nvidia and Apple
Samsung Electronics posted record Q2 operating profit of 89.49 trillion won, surpassing Nvidia and Apple, driven by its HBM4 memory business amid the AI chip super cycle.
China's CXMT Listing Storm Threatens Samsung, SK with DRAM Rise
China's CXMT soared 465.82% on its Shanghai STAR Market debut, becoming mainland China's top firm by market cap and threatening Samsung and SK hynix in DRAM.
Three Shocks Rattle KOSPI: China Chips, FOMC, Nvidia
The KOSPI plunged more than 10%, posting a July return of -28.9%, amid three shocks: China's CXMT DUV chip production, FOMC rate hike fears, and Nvidia's rising CDS premium.
China's CXMT Tops Market Cap on Debut, Chases Samsung and SK in DRAM
China's CXMT topped mainland market cap on its Shanghai debut, surging 465.82%, intensifying its DRAM chase against Samsung and SK hynix as Naver forms a $10 billion AI alliance.
SK hynix Emerges as Kioxia's Second-Largest Shareholder, Nears Top Spot
SK hynix emerged as Kioxia's second-largest shareholder after Bain Capital sold most of its stake, while Samsung and SK signed $950 billion in AI chip deals with Big Tech.
Lisa Su Says "Almost There" as Samsung Nears AMD HBM4 Deal
AMD CEO Lisa Su says a final HBM4 contract with Samsung Electronics is "almost reached," while President Lee's U.S. visit may bring mega long-term deals with big tech.
Lee, Chung Join Jensen Huang on Global AI Advisory Board
Samsung's Jay Y. Lee and Hyundai's Euisun Chung join a global AI advisory board with Jensen Huang and Satya Nadella, as Korea watches U.S. forced-labor tariffs and Samsung Electro-Mechanics wins a 300 billion won order.
Hanwha Ocean AI Innovation Pays Off as Suppliers' Productivity Soars
Hanwha Ocean supplier Donghwa Entec cut costs up to 6.3 billion won via AI and robots, while Lotte, Hanwha and DL launch an integrated petrochemical entity in Yeosu.
Samsung Launches Robot Dream Team Under CEO With Top-Tier Talent
Samsung Electronics launches its Robotics eXperience (RX) Business Division under CEO Roh Tae-moon, integrating hardware, AI, and software to seize the global robot market with S-class talent.
TSMC Bets 400 Trillion Won on U.S. in Chip Supremacy Gambit
TSMC confirms a record $265 billion (397.5 trillion won) investment in 12 Arizona chip facilities, while Samsung begins V10 NAND supply to Nvidia and Korea's FSC moves to cap financial CEO terms.
Chey Warns of Deeper Chip Shortage in 2026 as AI Demand Surges
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won warns AI chip demand will surge 60-100% in 2026 while supply barely grows, calling global scramble for memory "utter chaos."
Trump Asks Korea to Build 10 Warships, K-Shipbuilding Eyes US Navy
Trump asked Korea to build 10 US warships, boosting the $150 billion MASGA project as the US Navy sends RFIs to HD Hyundai, Hanwha Ocean and Samsung Heavy.
Memory Buying Frenzy Triggers IBM Shock, AI Software Stocks Tumble
IBM shares plunged 25.21% as customers shifted IT budgets to memory chips amid "chipflation," dragging down AI software stocks including ServiceNow, Adobe, and Salesforce.
"AI Investment Can't Stop": SK Chairman Chey to Build US AI Data Centers
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won announced plans to build AI data centers to lower AI token costs and use the US as an R&D hub, while Samsung Electronics races to recruit HBM talent targeting HBM5.
AI Devours Power Grid: US Faces Alarm Over Equipment Shortage
US power grid equipment shortages worsen as AI data centers surge, with transformer lead times hitting 160 weeks. HBM4 prices to double next year, boosting Samsung and SK hynix.
Chip Exports Surge 193%, Trade Surplus Hits $6.4 Billion
Korea's early-July exports hit a record $29.8 billion, up 53.9% year-on-year, as chip exports surged 193% to $11.2 billion, pushing the trade surplus to $6.4 billion.
SK hynix U.S. IPO Debuts as America Demands More Fabs
SK hynix set a record $26.5 billion U.S. IPO, the largest ever by a foreign company, as U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick urged Korean chipmakers to build fabs in America.
LG Bets Big on Physical AI, Squares Off With Nvidia in 'World Models'
LG Group commits 9.4 trillion won to physical AI and world models, taking on Nvidia and Google, as global AI token costs plunge 22% and 90% of world market cap shifts to T+1.
Samsung Expands Vera Rubin Supply Chain From HBM to eSSD
Samsung begins mass production of PM1763 eSSDs for Nvidia's Vera Rubin platform, completing its total AI memory supply chain alongside HBM4, as analysts see the chip supercycle lasting 2-3 more years.
Memory Price Paradox: Samsung's DX Profit Halves
Samsung Electronics topped 100 trillion won in quarterly operating profit for the first time among global companies, yet its DX division's profit halved as memory costs surged to 40% of smartphone costs.
Even Nvidia Hits the PCB Wall as AI Roadmap Flashes Red
Nvidia's next-generation AI rack Kyber NVL144 is delayed to 2028 over PCB manufacturing limits, sending Asian tech stocks down over 10%, as OPEC+ boosts output for a fifth month.
Samsung Q2 Operating Profit Seen Near 85 Trillion Won, Eyeing Nvidia
Samsung Electronics' Q2 operating profit is projected at around 85 trillion won, poised to surpass Nvidia's $53.5 billion and rank No. 1 among global tech firms.
Homeplus Rehabilitation Collapses; Court Deadline Looms in 14 Days
Seoul Bankruptcy Court terminated Homeplus rehabilitation, leaving a 14-day deadline to raise 200 billion won or face bankruptcy, threatening 10,000 jobs amid a Meritz-MBK standoff.
Meta Weighs GPU Leasing, Rattling AI Chip Market
Meta weighs leasing its GPUs to outside parties, plunging chip stocks. Korean power equipment firms win major AI data center deals, and POSCO declares a 17 trillion won 'Triple Core' strategy.
Samsung Bets on 1.4-Nanometer Chips, Turning to Quantum Computing to Break Compute Bottleneck
Samsung Electronics aims to mass-produce 1.4-nanometer angstrom-class chips within four years, applying quantum computing to photolithography as DRAM prices hit a record $21 and June exports topped $100 billion.
Samsung, SK to Invest 90 Trillion Won in AI Data Centers in Southwest Korea
Samsung and SK plan to invest 90 trillion won in AI data centers in southwest Korea, part of a combined 895 trillion won investment in the Honam region, drawing wariness from Taiwan, China, and Japan.
Samsung, SK to Pour 3,530 Trillion Won into AI Chip Mega Cluster
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix unveiled a 3,530 trillion won memory chip investment plan, building an AI chip mega cluster across the capital and southwestern regions of Korea.
SK hynix Market Cap Jumps 10-Fold, Heads to Nasdaq
SK hynix's market cap surged nearly 10-fold to over 2,000 trillion won in a year ahead of its Nasdaq ADR listing, while Samsung and SK accelerate the Yongin semiconductor cluster.
Funding Dries Up for Chips and Defense: Korea's Painful Financial Reality
Korea's advanced industries face funding shortfalls as foreign banks supply 66% of ship financing. Plus, China tops 1 million robot firms and chipflation pushes MacBook prices to $9,999.