Key Takeaways
- South Korea is matching or lagging behind China in five semiconductor technology areas, including memory and AI chips.
- China has overtaken South Korea in memory chip technology, now ranking second globally, just behind the US.
- The gap in advanced chip packaging between South Korea and China has narrowed significantly, with both countries achieving identical competency scores.
China’s Advances in Semiconductor Technology
A recent report by the Korea Institute of Science & Technology Evaluation and Planning reveals that South Korea is either lagging behind or equal to China in essential semiconductor technologies. This assessment comes after surveying 39 experts in the South Korean semiconductor sector, indicating that China is rapidly catching up with leading global semiconductor producers despite ongoing US restrictions on its access to advanced chipmaking resources.
One significant finding is that China has now surpassed South Korea in memory chip technologies, an area historically dominated by South Korean firms like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. China is now positioned only behind the United States in memory chip capabilities, marking a notable shift from a previous analysis in 2022, where South Korea held the second spot in both memory and advanced packaging technology, with China following in third and fourth.
The report emphasizes that even in memory chips—an area where South Korea once had a stronghold—Chinese companies are gaining ground and increasing their market share. The influx of Chinese legacy chips, which reportedly have a minimal technological gap compared to their South Korean counterparts, further underlines this shift.
Additionally, the competition extends into advanced chip packaging technologies, where South Korea and China have reached the same fundamental competency score of 74.2. This result indicates a significant improvement in China’s technology capabilities, placing it on par with South Korea in this domain, while the US, Japan, and Taiwan rank higher overall.
In the arena of high-performance, low-power artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors, China remains ahead of South Korea, following only the US. The findings reflect a broader trend in which China, despite external challenges, continues to enhance its semiconductor industry, effectively narrowing the gap with its South Korean competitor.
This evolving landscape in semiconductor technology showcases the dynamic and competitive nature of the industry, where innovation and technological advancements are crucial for maintaining leadership in a sector critical to the global economy. As semiconductor technology increasingly becomes vital in various applications including AI and high-performance computing, the race between South Korea and China will likely continue to intensify.
The report serves as a wake-up call for South Korea as it navigates the changing currents of the semiconductor industry, stressing the importance of innovation and adaptation to maintain its status in a field witnessing rapid evolution.
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