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  • Democratic Party Delays Decision on Song Young-gils Candidacy
    Democratic Party Delays Decision on Song Young-gil's Candidacy The Democratic Party of Korea discussed the candidacy eligibility of Representative Song Young-gil on July 16 but did not reach a conclusion. The party plans to hold a closed meeting of its Supreme Council on the morning of July 17 to revisit the issue.Chief Spokesperson Kang Jun-hyun told reporters at the National Assembly, "We began discussions today regarding the eligibility of some candidates as candidate registration has started." He emphasized that the meeting was not a formal Supreme Council session but rather an informal gathering.According to party regulations, eligibility to run for office is granted to party members who have been registered for at least six months prior to the election date and have paid party dues at least six times within the year leading up to the election.Song rejoined the party in February 2023 after leaving amid allegations of distributing money envelopes. As of the first day of candidate registration, he does not meet the six-month requirement.It is reported that the party's Supreme Council could grant Song eligibility through a formal decision. However, if the ongoing factional conflicts within the Supreme Council prevent a resolution, the decision may be difficult to achieve.In addition to Song, other candidates for the party leadership include former leader Jeong Cheong-rae, former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Representative Ko Min-jeong, and former Gangjin County Council Chair Kim Bo-mi.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-17 00:08:00
  • Travel Times for July 17 Holiday Weekend: Seoul to Busan, Gangneung, Sokcho
    Travel Times for July 17 Holiday Weekend: Seoul to Busan, Gangneung, Sokcho As South Korea celebrates Constitution Day, a significant increase in travelers is expected over the three-day holiday weekend. Major tourist destinations and highways across the country are anticipated to see a surge in activity.According to the Korea Expressway Corporation and the tourism industry, this weekend marks the beginning of the summer vacation season, coinciding with holiday travel demand. Popular coastal destinations such as Gangneung, Sokcho, Yangyang, Busan, Yeosu, and Namhae, as well as flights to Jeju Island, are expected to see a notable rise in visitors.Particularly, congestion is likely to begin early in the day on the Seoul-Yangyang Expressway, Yeongdong Expressway, Gyeongbu Expressway toward Busan, Seohaean Expressway, and certain sections of the Jungbu Expressway.On Constitution Day, Friday, traffic is expected to start building up from 1 p.m., with significant delays anticipated. The period between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. is projected to be the busiest, with the longest travel times expected on highways leading to major vacation spots like Gangneung, Sokcho, and Busan. However, traffic flow may gradually improve after 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.The travel time from Seoul to Gangneung, which typically takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes, could extend to 4 to 5 hours on Friday afternoon. The journey from Seoul to Busan is expected to increase from the usual 4 hours to 6 to 7 hours, while the trip from Seoul to Sokcho may take around 4 hours instead of the usual 2 hours and 20 minutes. The travel time from Seoul to Jeonju is projected to rise from 2 hours and 30 minutes to between 3 hours and 30 minutes to 4 hours, and the trip to Yeosu could take up to 6 hours instead of the usual 4 hours and 20 minutes.Return traffic is expected to peak on Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon, with longer delays likely compared to a typical weekend due to the holiday season.Popular destinations for travelers are expected to include: ▲ Anmok Beach in Gangneung ▲ Sokcho and Yangyang ▲ Haeundae in Busan ▲ Yeosu ▲ Namhae ▲ Jeonju Hanok Village ▲ Gyeongju ▲ Jeju Island. There is also an anticipated increase in visitors to valleys and campgrounds.This summer, the extreme heat that persisted until last week is expected to ease, improving conditions for outdoor activities. The forecast indicates that high temperatures will be slightly lower than last week due to the weakening of the heat dome caused by a typhoon affecting the pressure system.However, traffic around popular vacation spots is likely to increase rapidly after 9 a.m., and parking difficulties at popular beaches and tourist sites are expected to worsen in the afternoon. Experts advise travelers to adjust their departure times earlier or later and to check real-time traffic information to reduce congestion.Netizens have reacted, saying, "This weekend is essentially the start of vacation," "As long as it doesn't rain, I'm heading to the beach," "As long as it's not as hot as last week, I'm good to go anywhere," "If you don't leave in the morning, you'll spend all your time on the highway," and "Leaving for Gangwon Province at dawn is the rule."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-17 00:04:00
  • Samsungs internal divide mirrors Koreas widening chip boom gap
    Samsung's internal divide mirrors Korea's widening chip boom gap SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - "This is not an issue of money," shouted Koo Jung-hwan, secretary-general of Samsung Electronics' Donghaeng union, before more than 5,000 employees gathered outside the company's Suwon campus Thursday, exposing a widening divide that increasingly mirrors South Korea itself, where the AI-driven semiconductor boom is creating winners and losers even within the country's biggest company. The demonstration, one of Samsung's largest labor rallies in recent years, underscored a growing internal rift as workers in its Device eXperience (DX) division protested what they described as unprecedented discrimination in this year's wage agreement. The dispute has become a symbol of how the AI chip boom is reshaping not only global technology markets but also corporate hierarchies, compensation and morale inside companies that once shared success more evenly across businesses. Dressed in black union vests and carrying placards reading "Same company, same rights," employees packed the road outside Samsung Digital City, the company's sprawling Suwon headquarters where its Galaxy smartphones, televisions and home appliances are developed and produced. Organizers abandoned plans for a march after the crowd grew so large it stretched toward the entrance of the campus. Police estimated attendance at about 5,000, while the union claimed around 7,000 workers had joined the protest. "Do you think we came here just for a few shares?" one union official shouted from the stage. "We are here because the value of DX workers' blood and sweat has been ignored." For many workers, Thursday's rally was about far more than the size of this year's bonuses. They argue that Samsung's consumer electronics businesses spent decades acting as the company's shock absorber whenever the notoriously cyclical memory chip business fell into downturns. While smartphones, televisions and home appliances generated steadier earnings through repeated boom-and-bust cycles in semiconductors, they say the latest compensation package overwhelmingly rewards today's AI-driven chip windfall while overlooking the divisions that helped sustain Samsung through leaner years. "DX employees have been left asking themselves whether they are really Samsung Electronics workers at all," another speaker told the crowd. The frustration stems from this year's wage settlement, which introduced a special management performance bonus for employees in Samsung's Device Solutions (DS) semiconductor division. Workers in the highly profitable memory business are expected to receive payouts estimated at as much as 600 million won ($430,000), according to union officials and industry estimates, reflecting Samsung's record semiconductor earnings driven by soaring demand for AI memory chips. DX employees, meanwhile, received 22.65 Samsung Electronics shares, worth about 6 million won, as part of the agreement. The disparity has become a symbol of what many employees describe as a two-tier Samsung — one powered by AI memory chips and another struggling for recognition despite helping build Samsung into one of the world's best-known consumer technology brands. "The company's remarkable achievements today were built on the blood, sweat and dedication of DX employees as well," Donghaeng said in a statement. "Instead, management created extreme discrimination in compensation between business divisions, leaving DX workers with a profound sense of exclusion and relative deprivation." A Samsung Electronics official told AJP the company had earmarked roughly 17 trillion won for performance-related bonuses tied to its latest business results. Instead of easing tensions, however, the scale of the payout has only deepened resentment among employees outside the semiconductor division. "We are not against our colleagues in DS," Donghaeng policy chief Baek Soon-hwan said. "Our problem is with management, which designed a wage agreement that excluded DX." The emotional tone of the protest reflected years of accumulated frustration. One veteran employee, identifying himself only as a member of Samsung's 1990 hiring class, drew loud applause after describing how the latest negotiations had shaken his confidence in the company. "Watching this unfair wage agreement, I felt as though my 37 years at Samsung had been erased," he said. "I have never experienced the company treating its employees with such indifference — beyond indifference, almost with ridicule." At one point, thousands of workers raised their fists and chanted, "Chairman Lee Kun-hee, we miss you," invoking Samsung's late patriarch as a symbol of what many said was a corporate culture that valued contributions across the company rather than concentrating rewards in a single business. The protest also reflected rapidly shifting labor politics inside Samsung. Donghaeng, formed mainly by DX employees in late 2025, has grown from roughly 2,000 members at its launch to about 28,500, according to the union, although the figure could not be independently verified. Many members joined after leaving Samsung's previously dominant super-enterprise union following dissatisfaction with this year's wage negotiations. Donghaeng is demanding compensation equivalent to 1,000 Samsung Electronics shares for every DX employee, the establishment of a separate company-wide compensation pool ahead of the 2027 wage negotiations and the cancellation of this year's wage agreement. Meeting the first demand alone would require roughly 49.35 million Samsung Electronics shares, worth nearly 13.7 trillion won based on the company's July 8 closing price. Industry officials, however, say the demands are unlikely to gain traction because Donghaeng itself participated in the joint bargaining committee until negotiations concluded in May. They also warn that a payout of such magnitude could provoke shareholder opposition at a time when Samsung is trying to revive the competitiveness of its smartphone, television and home appliance businesses while maintaining leadership in AI memory chips. Ironically, the semiconductor division receiving the richest rewards is far from unified itself. Separately on Thursday, Samsung's largest labor organization, the super-enterprise union, released a survey suggesting morale remains fragile in struggling parts of the DS division despite generous bonus payouts. Among 8,297 union members surveyed, 81.5 percent of foundry employees said they were highly likely or very likely to leave the company within the next two years. The figure stood at 75.4 percent in the System LSI division and 60.6 percent at Samsung's semiconductor research institute. By contrast, only 32.7 percent of employees in the memory division — expected to receive the largest bonuses this year — expressed a strong intention to leave, the second-lowest level after Samsung's AI Center. "The survey reflects the sense of crisis felt by employees on the ground," said Choi Seung-ho, head of the super-enterprise union. "The company must take these findings seriously and quickly introduce effective measures to prevent further talent outflow." The union said it would establish a policy committee representing each semiconductor business unit to prepare a broad package of demands for the 2027 wage negotiations, including measures covering housing, working conditions, industrial safety and retention of key talent. As darkness fell over Samsung Digital City, workers slowly dispersed toward nearby bus stops after nearly three hours of speeches and chants. Before leaving, an organizer posed one final question from the stage. "Where do we go next?" "Seocho!" thousands shouted back in unison, referring to Samsung Electronics' headquarters in southern Seoul. Donghaeng said it was preparing another rally outside Samsung's Seocho headquarters unless management responded to its demands, suggesting that what began as a dispute over bonuses is becoming a defining test of how Samsung shares the rewards of the AI era — and a reflection of the widening disparities emerging across South Korea's chip-led economy. 2026-07-16 22:46:21
  • New Listing Temporarily Halted, Deposit Requirement Raised to 30 Million Won
    New Listing Temporarily Halted, Deposit Requirement Raised to 30 Million Won New Listing Temporarily Halted, Deposit Requirement Raised to 30 Million WonRecently announced measures to address the volatility attributed to single stock leverage include an immediate halt to the listing of new products, including inverse and covered call options. The financial authorities have decided to raise the basic deposit requirement from 10 million won to 30 million won, mandating that the entire amount be paid in cash starting around August 5. Additionally, they will implement stricter entry barriers for single stock leverage investments by enhancing investor education and increasing the trading unit size.On July 16, the financial authorities announced these measures following a market situation review meeting chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister at the National Bank Association headquarters.Hanwha Aerospace Selected for Military Multipurpose Drone ProjectHanwha Aerospace has been selected as the preferred bidder for the military multipurpose vehicle project.On July 16, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration held a meeting of the Defense Acquisition Planning and Management Committee, where it finalized the selection of Hanwha Aerospace's Arion Smet as the model for the multipurpose unmanned vehicle project.The multipurpose unmanned vehicle is designed to perform various missions, including surveillance, reconnaissance, and logistics support for infantry units. It is considered a key asset in the Army's future combat system, known as Army TIGER 4.0.TSMC Raises Q3 and Annual Guidance Amid Strong AI DemandTSMC, the world's largest semiconductor foundry, has raised its guidance for the third quarter and the full year following strong second-quarter results.On July 16, Chinese media, including Tonghua Shun, reported that TSMC projected its third-quarter revenue guidance to be between $44.6 billion and $45.8 billion, exceeding market expectations of $43.11 billion. The gross profit margin guidance for the third quarter is estimated at 65% to 67%, aligning with the midpoint of market expectations, while the operating profit margin guidance is set at 56% to 58%, above the anticipated 57.7%.Shinan Uwi Offshore Wind Project Begins Construction with 3.4 Trillion Won InvestmentThe Shinan Uwi offshore wind project, a large-scale initiative funded entirely by domestic capital, is set to commence.On July 16, the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Shinan Uwi offshore wind project at the Shinan National Sports Center in Jeonnam Province. This project aims to establish a 390 MW offshore wind power generation complex southeast of Uido in Shinan County. The total project cost is approximately 3.4 trillion won, with commercial operations targeted to begin in January 2029.This initiative marks the first large-scale offshore wind project in South Korea funded entirely by domestic capital. It will also be the first project in the country to install 15 MW turbines, consisting of 26 turbines expected to generate about 1,062 GWh of electricity annually, enough to power approximately 300,000 households.Supreme Court Confirms Two-Year Sentence for Kwon Seong-dong, Resulting in Loss of Parliamentary SeatThe Supreme Court has upheld a two-year prison sentence for Kwon Seong-dong, a member of the People Power Party, for receiving illegal political funds from the Unification Church. As a result, Kwon has immediately lost his parliamentary seat under the National Assembly Act and the Public Election Act.On July 16, the Supreme Court's second division, led by Justice Eom Sang-pil, confirmed the original ruling of two years in prison and a fine of 100 million won for Kwon, who was indicted for violating the Political Fund Act. This final ruling comes nine months after the special prosecutor's team filed charges against him, leading to his immediate disqualification from office.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-16 22:04:00
  • Turkey: Ukraine War Must Not Spread to the Black Sea
    Turkey: Ukraine War Must Not Spread to the Black Sea Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized that the war between Russia and Ukraine must not spread to the Black Sea.According to Yonhap News on July 16, Fidan made the remarks during a joint press conference after meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv. He stated, "Concerns are growing over the escalation of the conflict as situations threatening Black Sea security continue to arise."He added, "Attacks on ports, tankers, and fishing vessels that threaten civilian lives are unacceptable," urging all parties to act with common sense and responsibility.As hostilities between Russia and Ukraine have intensified, incidents of attacks on commercial vessels traveling through the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov have increased. Turkey, which connects the Black Sea and the Mediterranean through the Bosporus Strait, actively trades with countries along the Black Sea.Fidan also stated that Russia and Ukraine should continue their peace talks in Istanbul, Turkey, in the same manner. He emphasized that security guarantees for Ukraine are the most crucial element in the peace negotiations.Regarding the NATO summit held in Ankara on July 7-8, he assessed that "NATO allies have clearly expressed their commitment to ongoing support for Ukraine."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-16 21:48:00
  • Xi Jinping Proposes AI Technology Sharing with Kazakhstan, Expanding AI Diplomacy
    Xi Jinping Proposes AI Technology Sharing with Kazakhstan, Expanding 'AI Diplomacy' Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Shanghai, where the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) is taking place, to propose cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and the digital economy.According to Yonhap News on July 16, Xi held talks with Tokayev at the Shanghai Xijiao Hotel during the '2026 WAIC and AI Global Governance High-Level Meeting.'Xi stated, "China is willing to share its digital economy and AI technologies to support Kazakhstan's digital transformation."He also emphasized the need to improve trade structures and expand cross-border e-commerce and service trade. Xi proposed increasing direct flight routes and enhancing cooperation in energy, minerals, education, science and technology, healthcare, sports, and media.In response, Tokayev expressed his expectations for expanded cooperation in trade, investment, transportation, energy, agriculture, and the digital economy. He also voiced support for Xi's proposed global initiatives and the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity, as reported by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.China is continuing high-level diplomacy focused on AI and the digital economy with friendly nations in conjunction with the WAIC, which runs from July 17 to 20.The WAIC, held in Shanghai since 2018, is a major AI event in China where global companies, experts, and government officials discuss the latest technologies, industry trends, and AI governance.On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.Li pledged to support Chinese investments in Cambodia and proposed cooperation in new energy, AI, the digital economy, and advanced manufacturing. Prime Minister Manet expressed his intent to collaborate in trade, investment, infrastructure, new energy, and connectivity.According to the organizers, this year's WAIC will feature over 3,000 products from more than 1,100 companies in an exhibition space exceeding 100,000 square meters, with about 300 of these being world premieres.China is expanding its cooperation network based on its technologies by incorporating AI and the digital economy into its existing trade, infrastructure, and energy-focused foreign collaborations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-16 21:36:00
  • Police Seek Arrest Warrant for Woman Accused of Disrupting Vote Counting
    Police Seek Arrest Warrant for Woman Accused of Disrupting Vote Counting Police have applied for an arrest warrant for a woman who allegedly obstructed access to a vote counting center at Olympic Park last month.According to Yonhap News on July 16, the Songpa Police Station in Seoul has requested a pre-arrest warrant for the woman, identified as A, on charges of obstruction of duty.The prosecution also filed for the warrant around 6 p.m. that day. The Seoul Eastern District Court is scheduled to hold a pre-arrest hearing on July 21 at 2:30 p.m.A is accused of blocking access to the handball arena, which served as a vote counting center, for about two hours on June 16 after protesters and the People Power Party's leader, Jang Dong-hyuk, reached an agreement to enter the facility. Despite attempts by Jang and Yoo Seung-min, president of the Korean Sports Council, to persuade her, A reportedly refused to open the door, insisting that procedures to secure the ballots and ballot boxes must be completed first.Some hardline conservative communities have referred to A as 'Oldark,' a shorthand for 'Olympic Park Joan of Arc.'Police began their investigation on June 17 and summoned A for questioning as a suspect on July 10.Additionally, police have applied for an arrest warrant for a man in his 30s among five suspects accused of illegally searching the junior women's handball team that entered the handball arena on June 8.On June 6, three men in their 20s were also charged with obstructing police duties after blocking officers' paths and insulting them as 'Chinese police' at the vote counting center. Pre-arrest warrants have been requested for them as well.Three suspects accused of damaging the entrance door to the machine room at the handball arena and trespassing on June 7 were sent to prosecutors without detention.The police stated, 'We plan to conduct a strict investigation into illegal activities at the Olympic Park vote counting center in accordance with the law and principles.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-16 20:48:00
  • Japan Secures 27,500 NVIDIA GPUs for Physical AI Development
    Japan Secures 27,500 NVIDIA GPUs for Physical AI Development The Japanese government is set to acquire a large number of NVIDIA's advanced graphics processing units (GPUs) to develop manufacturing-focused 'physical AI.'According to a report by Yonhap News, citing the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced plans to procure approximately 27,500 units of NVIDIA's cutting-edge AI semiconductor, 'Rubin,' during a visit by NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang.The Nikkei reported that this procurement is the largest of its kind at a national level globally. In comparison, South Korea has secured 260,000 advanced GPUs from NVIDIA, known to be the previous model, Blackwell.The Japanese government plans to utilize the acquired GPUs in the development of the sovereign AI project 'Noetra,' which involves 44 companies, including SoftBank Group, NEC, Honda, and Sony Group.A total of 387.3 billion yen (approximately $3.7 billion) will be invested in the Noetra project this year, with a total of 1 trillion yen (about $9.5 billion) allocated over the next five years.A large data center equipped with NVIDIA GPUs will be established on the site of the former Sharp factory in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture. The developed Noetra will be distributed to Japanese companies for application in manufacturing sites.The Japanese government is focusing on specialized areas in the industrial sector, such as industrial robots and robotics, utilizing manufacturing data instead of general-purpose AI models.A research organization involving 13 institutions, including Tokyo University of Science, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Oxford, will also be established. This organization will research five areas, including image and video generation and human-robot collaboration.NVIDIA will collaborate with Fujitsu, Fanuc, Yaskawa Electric, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries to commercialize physical AI in manufacturing, distribution, and healthcare sectors.NVIDIA will provide semiconductor technology for AI agents and robotics, while Fujitsu will handle the physical AI operating system (OS).CEO Huang stated, "Currently, robots operate in specific fields, but there are limitations in applying them across various manufacturing sites. To develop robotics technology that can be utilized in multiple small manufacturing environments, collaboration with Japan's manufacturing sector is essential."NVIDIA plans to jointly develop automotive manufacturing robots with Toyota and expand AI and robotics technology collaboration with Honda, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Hitachi.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-16 20:36:00
  • U.S. Expands Airstrikes into Irans Interior, Targets Tankers
    U.S. Expands Airstrikes into Iran's Interior, Targets Tankers The United States has expanded its airstrike operations from Iran's southern coast to include areas around the capital, Tehran, and its interior. The U.S. also targeted tankers attempting to breach a maritime blockade, disrupting their operations.According to Yonhap News and Iran's IRNA news agency, several strong explosions were heard early on July 16 in the western Iranian provinces of Lorestan, Markazi, and Semnan.These regions are home to Iran's ballistic missile production facilities and space program-related sites. Local officials believe the explosions were caused by U.S. attacks, with a Semnan official stating, "Semnan Airport was hit by U.S. strikes."Around the same time, air defense systems were activated in Parchin, located about 30 kilometers southeast of Tehran. Parchin is suspected of housing missile development and nuclear facilities.However, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) clarified that Parchin was not attacked and that the activation of air defense systems was a precautionary measure.The U.S. military has also intensified its maritime blockade. U.S. forces fired at the Belmah, a tanker heading to Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export terminal in the Persian Gulf.When the Belmah ignored warnings and continued its course, U.S. aircraft fired a missile at the ship's smokestack, disabling its movement.In response, Iran launched missiles and drones targeting U.S. bases in neighboring countries, including Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait. The attacked nations have not reported any casualties or damage. A nighttime drone attack also targeted Erbil in Iraq's northern Kurdish region, which was strongly condemned by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Alzaidi, who is currently visiting the U.S.In light of warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump to strike Iran's bridges and power plants, the Iranian military has threatened to target all infrastructure in the Middle East.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-16 20:20:00
  • TSMC Reports Record Q2 Profit of $32.5 Billion Driven by AI Chip Demand
    TSMC Reports Record Q2 Profit of $32.5 Billion Driven by AI Chip Demand The world's largest foundry, Taiwan's TSMC, reported a record net profit for the second quarter of this year, driven by increased demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips.According to Yonhap News on July 16, TSMC's net profit for the second quarter (April to June) reached 706.6 billion New Taiwan dollars (approximately $32.5 billion), a 77% increase from the same period last year.This marks the ninth consecutive quarter of double-digit net profit growth for TSMC. The company's earnings significantly surpassed the market forecast of 632.6 billion New Taiwan dollars (about $29.1 billion), based on estimates from 18 analysts compiled by financial information provider LSEG.On July 13, TSMC announced that its consolidated revenue for the second quarter rose 36% year-on-year to 1.27 trillion New Taiwan dollars (approximately $58.6 billion), also exceeding market expectations and setting a new record.TSMC anticipates continued demand for AI chips and has raised its performance and investment outlook for the year.The revenue forecast for the third quarter is projected to be significantly higher than last year's $33.1 billion, estimated between $44.6 billion and $45.8 billion (approximately $65.8 billion to $67.6 billion). The annual revenue growth forecast has also been increased from the previous 30% range to 40%.The annual capital expenditure forecast has been raised from the previous $50 billion range to between $60 billion and $64 billion (approximately $88.7 billion to $94.6 billion). This capital expenditure outlook is seen as a key indicator of management's confidence in the sustainability of AI demand.Wendell Huang, TSMC's Chief Financial Officer, stated after the earnings announcement, "Our confidence in the AI megatrend is very strong," adding that investments over the next three years will be significantly higher than in the past three years.TSMC also announced plans for additional investments to expand semiconductor production capacity in the United States. Chairman Mark Liu mentioned during the earnings conference call that the company plans to invest an additional $100 billion (approximately $147.8 billion) in Arizona, a decision aimed at supporting strong long-term demand from major U.S. customers.Liu added, "We believe this investment will promote the development of the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem, strengthen the supply chain, and help expand high-wage jobs in advanced technology sectors in the U.S."Last March, TSMC announced plans to invest a total of $165 billion (approximately $243.8 billion) to establish wafer fabrication plants, packaging facilities, and research and development centers in the U.S.With this additional investment, TSMC's total investment in the U.S. will reach $265 billion (approximately $391.7 billion).The market is seeing strong demand for TSMC's 3-nanometer and 2-nanometer process technologies used in AI chips, as well as robust demand for advanced semiconductor packaging technology known as Chip on Wafer on Substrate (CoWoS).TSMC, which counts NVIDIA and Apple among its major customers, plays a crucial role in producing advanced semiconductors used in NVIDIA's AI accelerators.Thanks to this growth, TSMC, the largest company by market capitalization in Asia, has seen its market value swell to approximately $1.97 trillion (about 2,921 trillion won). Reuters reported that TSMC's market capitalization is about double that of its global competitor Samsung Electronics, which stands at around 1,492 trillion won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-16 20:04:00