Samsung Electronics faces a major labor disruption after its union said about 48,000 workers would walk off the job on May 21, beginning an 18-day strike after last-ditch government-mediated talks over performance-based bonuses collapsed, according to Yonhap News Agency.

SK Hynix is accelerating construction at its Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, as a tightening memory market pushes South Korea's top chipmakers to move faster on long-term capacity plans.

Nan Ya PCB, one of Taiwan's leading IC substrate manufacturers, said it expects capital spending to rebound sharply in 2026, potentially reaching a record high, as demand from advanced chip packaging customers accelerates alongside the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) computing.

Team Group Chairman Dann-Ning Hsia said memory prices are likely to remain elevated as AI-related demand continues to strain supply, with the company prioritizing shipments to long-term customers in industrial, automotive and gaming markets.

Samsung Electronics' labor dispute entered a new phase on May 15 after the company's top executives issued a rare public apology and proposed resuming talks without conditions, only for the union to maintain its plan for an 18-day strike from May 21 to June 7.

Samsung Electronics has reportedly begun pre-emptive production adjustments at its semiconductor facilities as its labor union sticks to a planned 18-day strike despite the company's latest offer to resume talks without conditions.