Korean Media: No Longer Able to Underestimate China’s “Semiconductor Rise” — It Is Far More Than Rhetoric
On September 22, South Korea’s Daily News published an article stating that China’s “rise in the semiconductor industry” is not merely a slogan. This shift is evident as Chinese memory chip manufacturers transition from domestic-focused generic products toward integration into global supply chains. While South Korea maintains a leading position in high-value segments such as HBM, China’s rapid advancement demands caution. Complacency based solely on current market gaps would be premature and insufficient.
In reality, during the second quarter of this year, Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC) ranked third globally in NAND flash memory market share with a 14% volume share, surpassing Japan’s Kioxia. The company has achieved mass production capabilities for 267-layer 3D NAND technology.
ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) is expanding its presence in the DRAM market. Despite holding only a 7% market share in the second quarter, its revenue grew by 716% year-on-year. Reports indicate the company has entered the supply chains of global PC manufacturers including HP, ASUS, and Acer.
South Korea still holds advantages in HBM and advanced manufacturing processes. However, China’s proven industrial strategy—gaining market dominance through cost-competitive generic products before gradually moving into high-value-added segments—has repeatedly demonstrated effectiveness. South Korean firms have already lost leadership in LCD and solar panel markets to Chinese competitors, while the petrochemical sector faces mounting challenges due to China’s rise. Chinese enterprises have also rapidly expanded their market share in batteries and electric vehicles. Whether the memory semiconductor sector will remain an exception remains uncertain.
Notably, China has designated semiconductors as a national strategic industry, mobilizing concentrated capital and talent to drive development.
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix must accelerate investment in next-generation memory technologies, advanced packaging solutions, and high-capacity NAND flash to lead beyond the HBM era. The South Korean government, too, must strengthen support across tax policy, labor mobility, energy access, and permit issuance to counter a Chinese ecosystem backed by substantial policy funding, a vast domestic market, and agile decision-making capacity.
Current technological superiority in HBM does not guarantee future victory. Continued underestimation of China risks turning the tide of competition. To avoid repeating the fate of LCD and solar industries, South Korean semiconductor companies must not remain stagnant but instead seize early momentum and master next-generation technologies. “Superiority” is not fixed—it is a competitive advantage that must be continuously validated.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877017394280448/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent official positions.