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South Korea
Intelligence for Better Decision Making
South Korea Unveils National Strategy to Lead Global AI Semiconductor Race
Dec. 11, 2025 | Technology & InnovationSouth Korea is charting an ambitious path to solidify its leadership in semiconductor technology and policy amid the global AI race.
**On December 10, 2025, President Lee Jae-myung convened a high-level briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul under the theme “K-Semiconductor Vision and Development Strategy in the AI Era.” The briefing brought together key government figures and roughly 40 leaders from industry, academia and research institutions, including representatives from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.**
It stressed the dual role of the semiconductor sector as an engine of economic growth and a pillar of national security as global rivalry in AI technologies intensifies.
**The government set strategic objectives to secure South Korea’s place among the world’s top two in both memory and foundry by preserving an “ultra-gap” technological edge.**
It aims to increase domestic fabless semiconductor revenue tenfold and achieve technology and production sovereignty through the development and commercialization of next-generation memory solutions and neural processing units. The plan also calls for strengthening system semiconductor capabilities—especially on-device AI chips—and for achieving self-reliance in defense-grade semiconductors.
**To support these goals, the strategy launches a Global No 1 Development Project to reinforce supply chains for materials, parts and equipment.**
It calls for opening semiconductor-focused graduate schools to build a larger skilled workforce and for creating a Southern Region Innovation Belt to expand the nation’s semiconductor ecosystem. During the briefing, participants discussed changes in the AI-driven industry, plans to increase production capacity and the need to cultivate a robust AI semiconductor technology and ecosystem.
**On December 11, President Lee will meet with business executives from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, government officials and industry experts to refine strategies for advancing the semiconductor sector, with a particular focus on AI chip development.**
The session aims to address rising global competition for AI technology leadership through a coordinated national strategy.
**Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan will present an integrated government roadmap that emphasizes strengthening manufacturing capabilities in memory and foundry, expanding the nation’s role in chip design and accelerating next-generation semiconductors tailored to AI model requirements.**
The presidential office framed the global AI contest as a semiconductor-centered technology battle, prompting President Lee to mobilize national resources directly to bolster the industry.
US Approves Nvidia H200 AI Chip Exports to China in Strategic Shift of Semiconductor Policy
Dec. 11, 2025 | Geopolitics & DefenseThe United States has granted permission for the export of Nvidia’s H200 AI chip to China, ushering in a new phase of semiconductor trade dynamics.
**The United States approved the export of Nvidia’s H200 AI chip to China, partially relaxing the 2022 restrictions.**
Former President Donald Trump announced the deal on December 8, 2025, allowing Nvidia, AMD, Intel and other American firms to sell the H200 under conditions designed to protect national security. This represents the first approval for such an advanced AI processor since the 2022 export controls took effect.
**Based on the 2023 Hopper architecture, the H200 delivers roughly twice the inference performance and six times the AI training power of the earlier H20 chip.**
US officials excluded more advanced Nvidia products—those built on the Blackwell architecture and the forthcoming Rubin family—from the arrangement. By permitting exports of this earlier-generation, high-performance chip, policymakers aim to preserve a technological lead without forfeiting access to lucrative sales.
**Under the agreement, Nvidia must remit 25 percent of its China-derived revenues from H200 sales to the US government, up from an initial 15 percent proposal.**
The government will allocate these funds to bolster domestic job creation and semiconductor manufacturing, balancing export facilitation with continued economic and security interests in strategic technology.
**South Korean suppliers SK hynix and Samsung Electronics stand to gain from increased H200 orders, as both companies produce the eight-layer HBM3E high-bandwidth memory modules integral to the chip’s performance.**
China’s mandate favoring domestically produced semiconductors may limit H200 imports, depending on Beijing’s policy toward foreign hardware deployment versus homegrown alternatives.
**Observers view this approval as a strategic shift in Washington’s competition with China in AI and semiconductors.**
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says selling chips to China reinforces US market influence and deepens Chinese reliance on American technology. The decision reflects a belief that US leverage over China’s chip capabilities has weakened after advances by firms such as Huawei. It also aligns with the more conciliatory climate ahead of the planned April 2026 US-China summit, using exports and financial terms to shape broader technology relations.
Monitored Intelligence for South Korea - Dec. 12, 2025
News
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314
Government
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20
City/State
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33
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Releases
1
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Advisories
0
Service
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Academic/
Think
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4
Think
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4
Podcasts
0
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0
Social
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0
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1
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Trade minister meets new Indian envoy in Seoul for talks on economic and trade ties
Joongang Ilbo | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | UndeterminedTrade Issues and Numbers
Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo met with the newly appointed Indian Ambassador to Korea, Gourangalal Das, in Seoul on December 10, 2025, to discuss enhancing bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Both parties agreed on the importance of strengthening the foundation for expanding trade ties by improving and upgrading the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with plans to resume negotiations soon.
Yeo emphasized the need for India's support for Korean companies operating in India, which face nontariff barriers and other challenges. Currently, over 670 Korean firms, including Hyundai Motor and LG Electronics, operate in India. Yeo highlighted India as a key regional partner and expressed hope for deeper cooperation in sectors like shipbuilding and critical minerals.
Ambassador Das committed to actively advancing bilateral economic and trade cooperation during his tenure, signaling a positive outlook for future collaboration between South Korea and India.
Foreign minister highlights push for ‘future-oriented’ alliance in meeting with US think tank
Korea Herald | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Shifting Geopolitical Alliances
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun reaffirmed Seoul’s commitment to strengthening the Korea-US alliance and bilateral cooperation during a meeting with the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) delegation in Seoul. He highlighted that the new administrations in both countries have swiftly advanced the alliance through two summits, aiming to build a “future-oriented strategic comprehensive alliance.”
Cho outlined plans to accelerate cooperation in key sectors such as nuclear energy, shipbuilding, and nuclear-powered submarines through enhanced communication at all levels, reflecting the shared vision of both nations’ leaders. He emphasized the intent to guide the alliance toward a mutually beneficial and future-focused path amid evolving global security and economic challenges.
The Foreign Minister also called on the NCAFP to continue promoting awareness of the alliance’s importance within US policy circles, acknowledging the think tank’s longstanding role in supporting stronger bilateral ties. Members of the NCAFP pledged ongoing support for efforts by both governments to deepen the alliance. The delegation included prominent figures from US government and academic circles specializing in diplomacy and Asia-Pacific security.
정부, 정유·주유소 업계에 기름값 인상 자제 당부
Government Urges Oil Refining and Gas Station Industry to Refrain from Raising Fuel Prices
ET News | Local Language | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Regulation
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held a petroleum market inspection meeting on December 10, 2025, with major refiners, discount suppliers, and industry associations. The government urged the refining and gas station industry to refrain from excessive fuel price increases amid a recent upward trend in international petroleum prices.
Domestic petroleum product prices had increased sharply over the past month but stabilized at the start of December. However, international gasoline prices, which influence domestic prices, have turned upward again, rising to $79.4 per barrel in early December after a brief decline.
The ministry requested voluntary cooperation from the industry to avoid sharp price hikes and encouraged discount suppliers to help keep prices stable to reduce public burden. It plans to continue holding inspection meetings as needed and will maintain an inter-ministerial inspection team involving multiple government bodies to oversee the petroleum market.
Additionally, the ministry will upgrade the Opinet mobile app by early 2026 to offer consumers tailored gas station information based on vehicle-specific fuel efficiency, travel metrics, and prices to enhance consumer benefits.
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