SK Hynix widens lead over Samsung as HBM race accelerates

South Korea’s top chipmakers, SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics, are heading into 2025 with dramatically diverging fortunes, as the global race for AI-driven memory dominance accelerates. Fueled by surging demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM), SK Hynix is expected to outpace Samsung’s semiconductor division by nearly KRW13 trillion in first-half 2025 operating profit, according to industry estimates.

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Soaring AI electricity demand challenges South Korea’s energy policy

The rapid growth of the global generative AI industry has sharply increased electricity demand, straining national power grids and energy security worldwide. South Korea faces particular challenges in maintaining a stable power supply amid rising consumption. President Lee Jae-myung’s recent energy policies addressing this issue have drawn significant attention domestically.

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TDK acquires smart glasses startup SoftEye to expand AI hardware portfolio

Japanese electronics components giant TDK has announced the acquisition of SoftEye, a US-based smart glasses hardware and software developer, in a strategic push to diversify into artificial intelligence (AI)-driven devices. The move marks a significant step for TDK, traditionally known for its smartphone batteries, as it seeks growth beyond its core business, according to sources including Reuters and Nikkei.

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Intel-backed SATAS begins pilot line construction at Sharp’s factory in Japan

The Semiconductor Assembly Test Automation and Standardization Research Association (SATAS), spearheaded by Intel Corporation in Japan, announced on June 19, 2025, that it has begun constructing a pilot semiconductor back-end production line at Sharp Corporation’s Kameyama facility in Mie Prefecture. In addition to equipment installation, SATAS has initiated environmental preparation work for several buildings within the site.

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