China's chipmaking push 'truly chilling,' South Korean minister says
By Choonsik Yoo ( August 6, 2026, 08:19 GMT | Insight) -- South Korea’s industry minister warned that China’s rapid progress in localizing key technologies and equipment for manufacturing high-end artificial intelligence memory chips is “truly chilling,” arguing that it should serve as a wake-up call for South Korea to accelerate investment in its semiconductor industry or risk losing its global leadership. Trade, Industry and Resources Minister Kim Jung-kwan also argued that securing sufficient energy supplies, attracting talent and adopting far more flexible labor-market practices are essential to sustaining the country’s competitiveness in AI and semiconductors.South Korea’s industry minister said Thursday that China’s rapid progress in localizing key technologies and equipment for manufacturing high-end artificial intelligence memory chips is “truly chilling” and should serve as a wake-up call for South Korea to step up its own semiconductor efforts....
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