Semiconductors

South Korean chipmakers Samsung and SK Hynix reported combined profits of $59.7 billion for the March 2026 quarter. The figure tops the aggregate earnings of all listed Indian companies in any previous quarter. Strong demand for memory chips tied to artificial intelligence drove the results.

May 11, 2026 Reported by AI

South Korean stocks opened at a fresh record high on Monday, boosted by semiconductor gains even as concerns mounted over a potential breakdown in the US-Iran peace deal.

SensiTime, a Chinese AI company under US sanctions, launched SenseNova U1 on Tuesday. The open-source model generates and interprets images faster than leading US competitors, according to the firm. It is optimized for Chinese-made chips amid restrictions on advanced technology access.

April 29, 2026 Reported by AI

Samsung Electronics confirmed record Q1 sales of 133.87 trillion won and operating profit of 57.23 trillion won on April 30, slightly beating its earlier guidance of 133 trillion won in sales and 57.2 trillion won in OP. The results, up 69% and 756% year-on-year, were fueled by AI-driven memory chip demand, with net profit jumping over fivefold to 47.22 trillion won.

South Korea's exports surged 49.4 percent year-on-year to $50.4 billion in the first 20 days of April, driven by robust semiconductor demand, Korea Customs Service data showed Tuesday. Imports rose 17.7 percent to $39.9 billion, yielding a $10.4 billion trade surplus.

April 17, 2026 Reported by AI

Semiconductor programs tied to Samsung Electronics and SK hynix posted an average competition rate of 7.16 to 1 in the 2026 regular admissions cycle, surpassing the 6 to 1 average across 39 medical schools nationwide, Jongro Academy reported. Top programs like Hanyang University's Department of Semiconductor Engineering reached 11.8 to 1. The shift reflects growing appeal amid strong industry compensation, including SK hynix's record bonuses.