It's not just Samsung and SK hynix. Why South Korea is targeting 'AI Semiconductor Superpower' status as a national strategy | Salaryman Investor's Individual Stock & ETF

CHEONGJU, 28 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

I invest in emerging market stocks through my defined contribution pension plan.

Among individual stocks, TSMC leads at 15.14%, while Samsung Electronics is at 7.20%, SK hynix at 5.48%, and Samsung Electronics preferred shares at 0.89%. The information technology sector as a whole accounts for 41.5%. MSCI buying into the AI and semiconductor supply chain centered on Taiwan and South Korea. I felt this was extremely important when examining my own defined contribution pension. South Korea is currently one of the world's leading memory semiconductor powers.

However, its starting point was completely different from today's HBM. In the 1960s and 70s, it focused on assembly and exports for overseas companies. Samsung Electronics developed South Korea's first 64Kb DRAM. Then, in 1992, it developed the world's first 64Mb DRAM and reached the top global market share for DRAM. Samsung Semiconductor a country that designs and mass-produces cutting-edge memory itself. This change became the foundation for the subsequent South Korean semiconductor industry.

HBM is a memory that stacks multiple DRAMs vertically to exchange large amounts of data at high speeds. In generative AI, GPUs perform massive calculations, but they cannot reach their full potential if they cannot be supplied with data at a sufficient speed. SK hynix began developing HBM in 2009 and announced the first generation of HBM using TSV technology in December 2013.

SK hynix Newsroom What is interesting is that at the time, the market did not yet need HBM. Even so, as a result of continuing development, the situation reversed when the generative AI era arrived. Global X Japan reports that in the April-June 2026 quarter, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix together accounted for approximately 65% of the global DRAM market, and the two companies combined held approximately 79% of the global market share in HBM.

Global X Japan not a country that started making HBM only after the AI boom arrived. The technology that had been built up before the AI era arrived finally connected with a massive market. Another important factor in understanding the South Korean semiconductor industry is the presence of the government. It aims to have private companies invest over 510 trillion won by 2030.

The vision is to build a 'K-Semiconductor Belt' that connects design, manufacturing, materials, parts, equipment, talent, and R&D within South Korea, forming one of the world's largest semiconductor supply chains. South Korean government that it is not just about increasing the number of Samsung and SK hynix factories. Semiconductors cannot be made by a single company alone. Only when such a group of companies exists nearby can a massive semiconductor industry be formed.

In February 2025, the so-called K-Chips Act passed the South Korean National Assembly. Increased from 15% to 20% for large and mid-sized companies. For small and medium-sized enterprises, it has been raised from 25% to 30%. Tax credits for semiconductor R&D have also been extended until the end of 2031. YNA Semiconductors are an industry that requires investment over a span of several years. Therefore, long-term tax support influences the capital investment decisions themselves.

The South Korean government announced its economic growth strategy for the second half of the year. The plan involves accelerating the construction of semiconductor factories in the metropolitan area and proceeding with a total of 800 trillion won in fab investments in southwestern South Korea. Ministry of Economy and Finance Furthermore, movements on the corporate side are also accelerating.

SK hynix is currently building 'P&T7,' an advanced packaging hub for AI memory such as HBM, in Cheongju. In July 2026, the company announced a plan to invest a total of 100 trillion won in the Cheongju region for NAND fabs and advanced packaging facilities. SK hynix Newsroom It is about strengthening everything domestically, from HBM and advanced packaging to materials, components, and equipment.

Looking at the K-Semiconductor Strategy from 2021 through 2026, it is clear that the scope of the policy has expanded to the entire semiconductor ecosystem of the AI era. This is the part I especially want to convey in this article. These two companies are the only ones that get attention. Of course, there is no doubt that they are the main players.

However, if you look at the actual South Korean semiconductor industry, there is a very substantial group of companies surrounding them. For example, the 'Global X Korea Semiconductor Top 10 ETF (633A)' is an ETF that invests heavily in 10 South Korean semiconductor-related companies. Global X Japan also explains that this ETF is designed to capture the entire supply chain, including manufacturing equipment, materials, and components, not just Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.

Global X Japan Looking at the index composition as of August 11, 2026, the contents are clear. SK Square is a holding company that invests in semiconductor-related companies such as SK hynix. Hanmi Semiconductor handles bonding equipment such as TC bonders, which are in HBM manufacturing. Jusung Engineering and Wonik IPS are semiconductor manufacturing equipment companies. Isu Petasys produces high-multilayer boards that are also used for AI.

Leeno Industrial is involved in semiconductor inspection and testing. EO Technics is a laser processing equipment company. DB HiTek is a foundry that manufactures analog semiconductors and other products. The true nature of the South Korean semiconductor industry becomes clear. The surrounding companies are the stage equipment essential for the protagonists to compete globally. And that is exactly what the K-semiconductor strategy is aiming for. Not just to strengthen Samsung and SK hynix, but...

Strengthening the semiconductor supply chain within South Korea itself. I believe this perspective is extremely important when considering the South Korean semiconductor industry.

Related: Samsung Electronics · Ministry of Economy and Finance · Cheongju