South Korea Prepares for Semiconductor Boom Amid AI Revolution 2026 finds South Korea once again at the forefront of the semiconductor industry. The world stands on the brink of a massive artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, with semiconductors at its core, and South Korea positioned as a key player. Just a few years ago, the Korean semiconductor sector was in deep decline, facing plummeting memory prices and a global economic slowdown that forced Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to endure a harsh winter. However, the advent of the AI era has rapi May 29, 2026

Bitcoin Prices Fall to $73,000 Amid U.S. ETF Fund Outflows Amid ongoing uncertainty regarding the timing of interest rate cuts in the United States, outflows from spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have contributed to a decline in the prices of major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin. According to CoinMarketCap, as of 8 a.m. on May 29, Bitcoin was trading at $73,357, down 1.26% from the previous day. Ethereum also saw a decrease, with its price falling 1.01% to $2,003. Binance Coin (BNB) and Solana dropped 1.62% and 0.83%, respectively, trading May 29, 2026

Impact of Middle East War Intensifies as Production, Consumption, and Investment Decline in April Last month, South Korea experienced simultaneous declines in production, consumption, and investment. This marks the first time all three indicators have decreased since August of last year. The impact of the ongoing Middle East war, which began at the end of February, appears to be significantly affecting the economy. According to the National Data Agency's report on April 2025 industrial activity trends released on the 29th, the index for total industrial production (seasonally adjusted, May 29, 2026

Dev Sisters Promotes 'K-Heritage' at UNESCO World Heritage Committee Dev Sisters announced on May 29 that it will collaborate with the Cultural Heritage Administration to promote Korea's UNESCO-listed world heritage sites in conjunction with the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting, which will be held in Busan in July. This campaign is part of a memorandum of understanding signed between Dev Sisters and the Cultural Heritage Administration in February. The initiative aims to reinterpret the unique values of Korea's cultural heritage through the len May 29, 2026

Samsung Electronics Launches HBM4E Memory for AI Accelerators Samsung Electronics has begun supplying samples of its next-generation AI accelerator memory, the HBM4E 12-layer, to global customers. Following the mass production of HBM4, the early shipment of HBM4E samples marks a strategic move to regain leadership in AI memory that had shifted during the HBM3E era. As of May 29, industry sources report that Samsung is the first in the world to start shipping HBM4E 12-layer samples. HBM4E, a successor to HBM4, is a critical memory component that infl May 29, 2026

Samsung Electronics Ships HBM4E 12-Layer Samples to Global Clients Samsung Electronics has begun supplying samples of its next-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM), the HBM4E 12-layer, to global clients. This move follows the mass production shipment of HBM4 in February, further solidifying Samsung's technological leadership in the AI memory market. As of May 29, industry sources report that Samsung is the first in the world to ship HBM4E 12-layer samples. The new product utilizes 1c DRAM and 4-nanometer logic dies, operating stably at speeds of 14 Gbp May 29, 2026

South Korea Eases Requirements for Companies Returning from Overseas 정부가 해외로 나간 기업들의 국내 복귀를 촉진하기 위해 '유턴기업'의 인정 요청을 대폭 개선한다. 동일성 요건을 완화하고 해외 사업장 구조조정 요건에 대한 면제 범위도 확대하는 것이 핵심이다. 보조금 지원체계도 국내 투자 확대에 더 직접적을 연동되도록 개편한다. The South Korean government is significantly improving the recognition process for companies returning from overseas, known as "returning companies." Key changes include relaxing the requirements for product similarity and expanding exempti May 29, 2026

Korean Zombie Film 'Gunch' Redefines Horror Genre Amid Early Summer Release SEOUL, May 28 (AJP) - This year, the horror season has arrived earlier than usual, coinciding with the onset of summer. When thinking of K-horror, zombies have become synonymous over time. South Korea's unique interpretation of the Asian zombie, which began with the traditional Jiangshi, has evolved once again this year. This time, the zombies are equipped with the ability to 'think,' fitting for the AI era. Director Yeon Sang-ho's new zombie thriller 'Gunch' has surpassed 2.1 million vi May 29, 2026

Samsung Electronics Unveils AI Healthcare Vision at VivaTech 2026 Samsung Electronics will showcase its vision for AI-based healthcare at VivaTech 2026, Europe’s largest tech and startup event. The company emphasizes a "Connected Care" experience that manages health at home through a network of mobile devices, wearables, and home appliances. According to industry sources, Samsung will participate in VivaTech 2026, taking place from June 17 to 20 in Paris, France. This year's exhibition theme is "An Invitation to a Healthier Tomorrow." VivaTech is a maj May 29, 2026

South Korean Government Increases Tax-Free Fuel Subsidy for Farmers and Fishermen In response to rising international oil prices that have increased fuel costs for farmers and fishermen, the South Korean government has decided to raise the tax-free fuel subsidy to 176.2 won per liter. On May 29, during a meeting at the Government Seoul Building led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Ku Yun-cheol, officials announced a plan to expand support for fuel costs for farmers and fishermen. The government has been providing a fuel subsidy of up May 29, 2026