TSMC has terminated its partnership with Singapore's PowerAIR amid a probe into possible US export control violations, potentially involving Huawei. This move highlights the challenges of enforcing US sanctions on Huawei, the vulnerabilities in the semiconductor supply chain, and TSMC's commitment to US regulations despite China's substantial role in its revenue
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 in Las Vegas, US has concluded, revealing distinct strategic paths taken by South Korean tech giants Samsung Electronics (Samsung) and LG Electronics (LG). While both companies leveraged generative AI (GenAI) to enhance their competitive positions, their approaches and market focus demonstrated notably different visions for the future of consumer technology
Chinese tech giant Xiaomi has sparked speculation about its electric vehicle (EV) ambitions in South Korea following the establishment of a local subsidiary that includes "automobile sales" in its business operations, drawing significant attention from the industry
The historical separation of Silicon carbide (SiC) material supply chains between the US and China in the military sector has been completed for years, particularly in applications such as radar systems for detecting stealth aircraft
Hyundai Motor Group has announced a historic investment of KRW24.3 trillion (approx. US$16.655 billion) in South Korea, marking the largest investment in the company's history. The funds will be allocated toward the R&D and production in areas such as electric vehicles (EV), software-defined vehicles (SDV), hydrogen energy, and artificial intelligence (AI), to create future growth momentum
Most of Apple's high-end products are likely to be excluded from China's latest round of subsidies, as the country has set a price cap of CNY6,000 (approx. US$822) for eligible digital products. Under the new program, consumers will receive a 15% subsidy on the purchase of smartphones, tablets, and smart bracelets, provided the products fall within the price limit
Luxshare's planned acquisition of Wingtech's ODM business by the end of 2024 aims to enhance its design capabilities and global presence, while Wingtech shifts focus to semiconductors. This strategic move will help Luxshare diversify beyond Apple orders and expand its global production amid geopolitical uncertainties
LG Display is reportedly planning to adjust its production line configuration by converting its iPad OLED panel production lines to manufacture iPhone OLED panels. This decision comes in response to lower-than-expected iPad Pro demand, according to The Elec
South Korea's exports surged to a record-breaking US$683.8 billion in 2024. Semiconductor exports played a pivotal role, reaching US$141.9 billion, setting a new high and driving overall export growth. Meanwhile, the country's imports totaled US$632 billion, reflecting a 1.6% decrease compared to the previous year, resulting in a trade surplus of US$51.8 billion
Japanese foundry Rapidus is preparing to provide 2nm chip samples to US semiconductor giant Broadcom, after it began trial production, which is scheduled for April 2025 and mass production expected by 2027, Nikkei Asia reports. To stabilize its operations and achieve profitability, Rapidus is actively trying to secure substantial and reliable customers
Chinese foundries have stepped up 12-inch fab capacity expansions, which is poised to result in more heated price competition in the mature process market in 2025, according to industry sources
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang made a notable appearance alongside multiple partnered robots during his keynote speech at CES 2025. South Korean media observed that out of the 14 showcased robots, six were from Chinese companies, marking the highest representation, while none were from South Korean companies, sparking significant concern and discussion within the South Korean industry
The US Department of Defense (DoD) has published its annual update to the Section 1260H blacklist, which identifies Chinese companies allegedly tied to the military. The 2024 list features 134 firms, including tech powerhouse Tencent and CATL, the world's leading manufacturer of electric vehicle (EV) batteries
At CES 2025, Honda and Sony introduced their first electric vehicle, the Afeela 1, initially available for pre-order in California, with plans to expand across the US and Japan. This launch is a crucial step in their partnership, which started in 2022. Despite the buzz, the market remains uncertain about the vehicle's long-term success
Major tech companies are gearing up for a surge in replacement demand as government incentives aim to stimulate sales of home appliances and consumer electronics products
