UPDATE: Samsung Elec Q3 memory OP stronger than expected at $5 bn, upbeat on Q4 (Updated with conference call comments) SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics’ chip division staged a decisive turnaround in the July–September quarter, with profit from its core memory operation jumping to 7 trillion won ($4.9 billion) — nearly 18 times from the last quarter — on the back of record memory revenue fueled by high-value server demand. Memory sales climbed 26 percent on quarter and 20 percent on year to a fresh quarterly high of 26.7 trillion won. Including non-memory operations, revenue from Device Solution overseeing all chipmaking operation reached 33.1 trillion won, reflecting narrowing losses in logic and foundry segments as contract manufacturing activity picked up. Samsung shares rose 3 percent to 103,100 won in Thursday trading after the better-than-expected memory results. Even with the rebound, Samsung’s memory performance remains laggard behind SK hynix, which delivered 11.4 trillion won in operating profit and a 47 percent margin in the third quarter. The gap reflects hynix’s dominance in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) — the defining component for premium AI servers — where it held 62 percent of the market as of June. Samsung, once unrivaled in DRAM, remains a distant third in HBM, falling short of a breakthrough on HBM4 shipments for the fourth quarter, while SK hynix begins supplying Nvidia. While expecting stronger HBM4 demand and broader AI-driven memory momentum next year, Samsung is still awaiting customer clearance for mass production after delivering HBM4 prototypes, said Kim Jae-jun, memory division vice president, during a conference call. Samsung reportedly cleared Nvidia’s HBM3E tests last month, but its position in the next-generation HBM4 supply chain remains uncertain. To prepare for future demand, the company said it is making aggressive, preemptive investments. R&D spending reached a record 26.9 trillion won as of September. Capital investment totaled 32.3 trillion won, down 6.3 trillion won from a year earlier, with memory-infrastructure spending reduced but high-end chip production investment increased. Capex next year will again center on AI-related memory and return to 2024 levels, Kim added — signaling a deepening shortage in legacy chip supply. Samsung Electronics allotted around 57 trillion won for expansion in 2024. Outside its chip division, Samsung’s MX and networks business — home to its smartphone operations — reported 3.6 trillion won in operating profit, steady from 3.1 trillion won in the second quarter and 2.8 trillion won a year earlier on strong demand for new foldables. Mobile revenue rose 18 percent on quarter and 12 percent on year to 33.5 trillion won. On a consolidated basis, Samsung confirmed third-quarter operating profit at 12.2 trillion won, more than double the previous quarter and up 32.5 percent on year, the strongest performance since the second quarter of 2022. Sales rose 15.4 percent on quarter and 9 percent on year to 86.1 trillion won. Net profit came in at 1.22 trillion won, sharply higher than 51 billion won last quarter and 21 percent above a year earlier. Looking ahead, Samsung echoed SK hynix’s upbeat chip outlook, pledging to accelerate sales of high-performance AI and data-center products and push HBM4 mass production. While it reiterated the industry view that supply will remain tight amid surging, broad-based demand for generative AI, Samsung said it will focus on ramping output from its 2-nanometer fabrication line and readying its next-generation Taylor, Texas fab for start-up next year. 2025-10-30 10:27:18

UPDATE: SK hynix reaps record $8 billion Q3 OP, gears up for aggressive capex (Updated with comments from conference call) SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - SK hynix plans to “significantly” ramp up facility investment next year after reporting a milestone operating profit of $8 billion in the third quarter, reinforcing its ambition to stay at the forefront of the global AI transition and ride what it calls an “unprecedented super cycle.” The Korean memory giant on Wednesday reported an operating profit of 11.38 trillion won ($7.9 billion) for the July–September period, up 62 percent from a year earlier and 24 percent from the previous quarter. Revenue rose 39 percent on year and 10 percent on quarter to 24.45 trillion won, underscoring its strengthened dominance in high-performance memory for AI servers and data centers. Operating margin as the result was as high as 47 percent, increased from 41 percent in the previous quarter to suggest widened lead over Samsung Electronics, whose decades-long No. 1 status in memory has been overtaken this year. Shares of SK hynix rose 5 percent and touched a record 547,000 won in Wednesday’s session as investors cheered the company’s robust outlook for the current chip boom. Chief executive Kim Woo-hyun drew a clear distinction between today’s market and the previous 2017–18 upcycle. “The biggest difference is the scope of demand,” he said during a conference call. “AI is creating entirely new application sources—from servers to self-driving vehicles—resulting in structurally constrained supply under explosive demand.” He dismissed speculation that the upcycle may fizzle out in its second year as typically done in the past rounds. The profit windfall boosted cash on hand to 27.9 trillion won as of end-September, with cash-equivalent assets up 10.9 trillion won from June. Net cash reached 3.8 trillion won while total debt stayed steady at 24.1 trillion won. The balance sheet resilience gives SK hynix "sufficient" room to push forward capacity expansion, Kim said, adding that next year's capex will rise “considerably” from this year— without specifying figures. SK hynix had earlier guided 29 trillion won in 2025 capex, 62 percent higher than 2024. SK hynix’s leap to the top of the global memory market stems from its early and aggressive bet on HBM, a high-bandwidth memory used in premium servers and AI systems. It accounted for 62 percent of global HBM bit shipments in the second quarter, ahead of Micron’s 21 percent and Samsung’s 17 percent, according to Counterpoint Research. The company’s rising profit share suggests its HBM lead has only deepened, given that HBM sells at several times the price of conventional DRAM and roughly five times that of DDR5. “Demand for memory across the board surged on AI infrastructure spending,” the company said in a statement, citing stronger prices for DRAM and NAND flash and sharp shipment increases of high-performance chips. Shipments of 128-GB-and-up DDR5 more than doubled from the second quarter, while enterprise SSDs for AI servers now account for a larger portion of NAND sales. The company will begin shipping HBM4 in the fourth quarter—destined for Nvidia’s next-generation processors—and has already secured full-year supply contracts for HBM, DRAM, and NAND for 2026. Its HBM breakout is rooted in its multi-story stacking technology, which has advanced from 3D to 4D through triple-level cell (TLC) architecture, enabling higher density and power efficiency suitable for Nvidia’s stringent specifications. SK hynix this week also began the world’s first commercialization of 321-layer NAND flash, aimed at rising AI mobile workloads. To meet undying global demand, the company will expedite cleanroom openings, expand output via the M15X fab, and accelerate the migration to sixth-generation 10-nanometer production across DRAM lines. It expects DRAM demand to grow more than 20 percent next year, following this year's estimated gain in high-10-percent range. 2025-10-29 08:56:44

Korea's Q3 GDP adds stronger than expected 1.2% on quarter, sentiment weakens ] Seoul, October 28 (AJP) -South Korea’s economy grew faster than expected in the third quarter, expanding 1.2 percent on quarter on the back of a rebound in capital investment and a modest recovery in consumer spending, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea on Tuesday. The stronger-than-expected growth — up from 0.7 percent in the second quarter and following a 0.2 percent contraction in the first — was largely driven by renewed capital spending in semiconductors and shipbuilding, alongside higher household consumption supported by two rounds of government stimulus vouchers. On year-on-year basis, GDP grew 1.7 percent, compared with 0.6 percent in the second quarter and zero growth in the first, keeping the country on track to meet the central bank's 0.9 percent annual growth target for 2025. Consumer spending rose 1.3 percent, accelerating from a 0.5 percent gain in the previous quarter, while capital investment jumped 2.4 percent, reversing from contractions of 2.1 percent and 0.4 percent in the second and first quarters, respectively. Exports increased 1.5 percent, slowing from a 4.5 percent gain in the second quarter, reflecting how record outbound shipments were concentrated in chips while other items faced headwinds from renewed U.S. tariff measures. The better-than-expected GDP headline number was broadly ignored by the financial markets as they looked forward. The KOSPI retreated 1 percent in early Tuesday session as institutions took profit after a near 10-percent surge from an almost uninterrupted two-week rally. The Korean won slipped 1.4 versus the U.S. dollar to 1,434.9. The fourth-quarter outlook remains jittery as concerns over housing market and trade uncertainties weighed over consumer and business confidence. The Composite Consumer Sentiment Index for October edged down 0.3 points to 109.8, signaling softer optimism as worries mount over high home prices and fragile trade conditions, according to BOK's separate release on Tuesday. While most sub-indices stayed stable — current living conditions at 96, living-conditions outlook at 100, household income outlook at 102, and spending outlook at 110 — the future economic outlook fell three points to 94. “The prolonged South Korea–U.S. trade negotiations and renewed U.S.–China tensions have dampened overall sentiment,” said Lee Hye-young, head of the Bank’s economic sentiment survey team. The housing price outlook index was up 10 points to 122, the highest since October 2021, amid steep apartment gains in the Seoul metropolitan area. The interest-rate outlook rose two points to 95, reflecting concerns about exchange-rate volatility and real-estate inflation. Expected inflation for the next year ticked up 0.1 percentage point to 2.6 percent, while perceived inflation over the past year remained unchanged at 3.0 percent. Corporate sentiment also remained downbeat. The Business Sentiment Index for November, released by the Federation of Korean Industries, came in at 94.8, marking the 44th consecutive month below the neutral 100 threshold since April 2022. Manufacturing sentiment at 96.8 stayed flat, while non-manufacturing at 92.8 fell three points, pulling down the overall index. Within manufacturing, general machinery and equipment at 120.0 and textiles and apparel at 107.1 showed upbeat expectations, while food and beverages and automobiles were neutral at 100. Sectors such as pharmaceuticals projected further declines. Among service sectors, information and communications at 112.5, professional services at 106.7, and utilities at 105.3 maintained positive outlooks, but transportation and warehousing at 80.8 dragged overall sentiment lower. “Increased foreign exchange volatility and global supply chain instability are aggravating business difficulties,” said Lee Sang-ho, head of the FKI’s economic and industrial division. Regardless of the relief in the third quarter, Korea is expected to end the year at its weakest growth since the pandemic outbreak year and perform worst among key Asian players. 2025-10-28 08:40:33

Trump to hold back-to-back summits with Korea, China, Japan during APEC week SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) -U.S. President Donald Trump will embark on a week-long Asian tour next week, making stops in Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and China for a series of summit talks with regional leaders coinciding with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, the White House confirmed Thursday. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump’s first stop will be Malaysia, where he will meet Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday and attend a working dinner of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders. He will then travel to Japan on for his first meeting with new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Tuesday before heading to South Korea’s southern port city of Busan on Wednesday for a two-day stay as the host country prepares for the APEC forum. Trump is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with President Lee Jae Myung Wednesday and Chinese President Xi Jinping before he departs for home on Thursday, Leavitt said. In Gyeongju, the U.S. president is also expected to deliver a keynote address at the APEC CEO luncheon and attend the APEC leaders’ working dinner, although he will not be present for the official APEC summit sessions set for Oct. 31–Nov. 1. Trump’s trip comes as Washington and its Asian counterparts grapple with trade frictions — including negotiations to finalize South Korea’s $350 billion investment package in exchange for U.S. tariff relief, and ongoing tit-for-tat measures between the United States and China. 2025-10-24 07:44:31

K-pop Demon Hunters take down U.S. Billboard charts and TV shows SEOUL, October 09 (AJP) - The fictional K-pop idol group remains unstoppable in its reign over global music charts as Netflix’s animated sensation K-pop Demon Hunters extends its historic run on the U.S. Billboard rankings — now bolstered by viral television performances. According to Billboard on Monday (local time), the film’s original soundtrack (OST) reclaimed the top spot on both the Hot 100 singles chart and the Billboard 200 albums chart, marking its second double-crown achievement within a month. Eight tracks from the album simultaneously appeared on this week’s Hot 100. The lead single “Golden” by the virtual girl group HUNTR/X held No. 1 for the seventh consecutive week, and eighth overall, on the Hot 100. Their onscreen rivals Saja Boys also landed in the Top 10 with “Your Idol” at No. 7 and “Soda Pop” at No. 10. Other standout tracks — “How It’s Done” (No. 17), “Takedown” (No. 30), and “Free” (No. 31) — continued to dominate streaming charts. The K-pop Demon Hunters soundtrack has now stayed within the Billboard 200’s Top 10 for 15 straight weeks since debuting at No. 8. Billboard said the ranking reflects a mix of traditional album sales, streaming-equivalent albums (SEA), and track-equivalent albums (TEA). Adding to its cultural momentum, the trio of real-life artists behind HUNTR/X — EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami — made their television debut on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last week, performing “Golden” in a dazzling blend of animated visuals and live choreography. The performance went viral within hours, topping YouTube’s trending music chart. Earlier this month, Saturday Night Live also featured a comedy sketch inspired by the film, in which segments of “Golden” and “Takedown” were performed live — signaling the franchise’s crossover from animation into real-world pop culture. Released earlier this year, K-pop Demon Hunters follows a K-pop girl group that battles evil spirits through music. With high-energy choreography, cinematic visuals, and distinctly Korean motifs — including a tiger mascot named Duffy and a gat-wearing magpie — the film became Netflix’s most-watched original animation, surpassing 300 million views worldwide. Cited as the most successful K-pop–inspired project to date, critics say the phenomenon redefines the boundaries between pop fandom, digital storytelling, and global music marketing — proving the enduring, universal appeal of Korea’s creative ecosystem. 2025-10-09 10:00:47

Suicide Becomes Leading Cause of Death for Koreans from Teens to 40s SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) -Suicide has become the leading cause of death among South Koreans from their teens through their 40s, with self-inflicted deaths overtaking cancer among people in their 40s for the first time since records began in 1983, according to a government report released Wednesday. The Statistics Korea data showed suicides accounted for 26.0 percent of deaths among those in their 40s in 2024, surpassing cancer at 24.5 percent. The total number of suicide deaths reached 14,872 last year, the highest since 2011 and up 6.4 percent from a year earlier. The suicide rate rose to 29.1 per 100,000 people — also the highest since 2011. Men were more than twice as likely to take their own lives as women, with rates of 41.8 versus 16.6 per 100,000. South Korea’s suicide rate stands out sharply on the global stage, with an OECD-standardized rate of 26.2 per 100,000 — more than double the OECD average of 10.8. Suicides among younger groups also climbed. Among teenagers, suicides accounted for 48.2 percent of all deaths, up from 46.1 percent a year earlier. In the 30s age group, the share rose to 44.4 percent from 40.2 percent. Overall deaths in Korea increased 1.7 percent last year to 358,569, reversing a pandemic-era decline. The daily average was 980 deaths. More than half (54.1 percent) were aged 80 or older, reflecting the country’s fast-aging demographics. Cancer remained the top cause of death overall, responsible for nearly one in four fatalities (24.8 percent). The cancer mortality rate stood at 174.3 per 100,000, led by lung cancer (38.0), liver cancer (20.4), colorectal cancer (19.0), pancreatic cancer (16.0), and stomach cancer (14.1). Deaths from prostate cancer (+9.7 percent), esophageal cancer (+9.0 percent), and pancreatic cancer (+6.7 percent) rose sharply year-on-year. 2025-09-25 15:31:12

Seoul holds off US trade deal despite Japan's tariff edge SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - South Korea is holding out in protracted trade negotiations with the United States and resisting pressure to sign a deal quickly even as Washington grants Japan a softer tariff regime that could erode Korean competitiveness. According to the Federal Register, the U.S. Commerce Department confirmed a preferential 15 percent tariff rate on Japanese automobiles and auto parts starting Tuesday, a significant discount from the 27.5 percent rate applied to most foreign-made cars under President Donald Trump’s protectionist trade agenda. The lower duty was part of a July agreement under which Tokyo pledged $550 billion in U.S. investments. Seoul reached a similar framework accord with Washington in July that included a $350 billion Korean investment pledge, but its signing has been delayed as negotiators wrangle over execution details. Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo, arriving in Washington this week for talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, stressed the complexity of the negotiations, saying, “The devil is in the details. We are having intense discussions on the specifics,” while adding that Seoul would not be swayed by “every twist and turn” in the talks. At stake is how Korea will deliver its $350 billion commitment. Seoul prefers to minimize direct equity stakes, offering guarantees instead, while U.S. officials are pressing for a deal closer to Japan’s structure—one that allows Washington to select and oversee investment projects, with profits shared between the two countries. The debate has been further complicated by a high-profile immigration raid at the construction site of a Korean joint-venture battery plant in Georgia, which raised tensions over labor and regulatory issues. Kim Yong-beom, chief presidential secretary for policy, underscored the risks of a rushed deal, warning that implementing the $350 billion package “has implications for our entire economy. We cannot compromise our long-term stability just to narrow a short-term tariff gap in autos.” Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan returned from Washington last week without a breakthrough after talks with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, highlighting the deadlock. Whether Yeo’s visit will provide a turning point remains uncertain, as Korean automakers uneasily watch their Japanese rivals gain an immediate edge in the U.S. market. 2025-09-16 13:26:43