U.S. and South Korea Wrangle Over Investment in America, with Washington Reportedly Pressuring Samsung and SK Hynix to Build Memory Production Lines in the U.S. as Seoul Faces Dual Pressure from Domestic Expansion and Bilateral Negotiations
South Korea to Establish KRW 5tn Semiconductor Fund, Focusing on Materials, Components, and Fabless CompaniesOn August 10, Kang Hoon-sik, chief of South Korea’s presidential secretariat, said the country will establish a KRW 5tn (approximately USD 3.52bn) dedicated semiconductor fund, focusing on investments in promising chip materials, components, and fabless companies. The initiative forms part of the government’s plan to develop semiconductor industry clusters. In addition to the semiconductor fund, Kang announced that the government will provide KRW 5tn in trade financing to support export-oriented suppliers. The government will also seek to pass the Special Act on Mega-Scale Special Industrial Complexes within the year to accelerate permitting and approvals, environmental assessments, and infrastructure development in relevant areas.