South Korea

[취재수첩] 메모리 품귀의 역설…AI PC에 기회 될까

Digital Daily | Local Language | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | UndeterminedTech Development/Adoption

The electronics industry is experiencing a memory semiconductor shortage due to manufacturers prioritizing the production of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) for AI infrastructure, leading to deficits in general-purpose memory. This shortage is impacting PC production, with Samsung Electronics unable to meet delivery deadlines for its PCs in B2B transactions, forcing an affiliate to substitute with Lenovo products. This situation signals challenges for Samsung in maintaining its domestic market dominance amid competitors who preemptively stockpiled memory.

As a result of the memory shortage, PC prices are rising, affecting price-sensitive custom-built PC markets and pushing finished PC prices upward. However, this price increase may reduce consumers' psychological barriers to purchasing AI PCs, which have struggled to gain popularity due to their high cost. If the price gap between general PCs and AI PCs narrows, consumers might prefer AI PCs when upgrading, potentially accelerating market adoption.

Industry forecasts, including those from IDC, predict AI PCs will represent 60% of the total PC market by 2027. The current memory shortage could therefore act as a catalyst for this generational market shift, turning a supply crisis into an opportunity to boost demand for higher value-added AI PCs. Whether this will trigger widespread AI PC adoption remains uncertain.

제동 걸린 가상자산 2단계 입법…업계가 바라보는 쟁점은

ZD Net Korea | Local Language | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Regulation

Phase 2 legislation intended to establish a comprehensive institutional framework for the virtual asset market in Korea has been delayed due to the government's failure to submit key bills by the scheduled deadline. The Financial Services Commission (FSC) had planned to present drafts of a basic digital asset law and Korean-won stablecoin regulations to the National Assembly by December 10, but missed this cutoff, disrupting the anticipated legislative review for the year. These bills are critical as they address issuance, distribution, authorization, and disclosure standards, areas not covered in the initial phase, leading to significant industry disappointment.

The delay is attributed mainly to ongoing disagreements between the FSC and the Bank of Korea regarding the issuance structure for Korean-won stablecoins. The Bank of Korea advocates for a consortium model dominated by commercial banks, citing concerns about financial stability and the payments system, suggesting a bank-centered issuer design to mitigate risks to monetary policy and reserve assets. Conversely, the FSC opposes restrictive shareholding rules, fearing they would limit participation from non-bank entities like fintech and payment firms, thereby reducing industrial diversity. The FSC favors global trends that maintain open issuer participation while controlling risks through capital and liquidity requirements.

These institutional conflicts extend to supervisory authority allocation. The FSC insists on centralized authorization and supervision of stablecoins under its control, aligning with financial regulatory principles. Meanwhile, the Bank of Korea seeks effective involvement from the authorization phase based on payments and settlement stability concerns. Proposals to grant the Bank rights such as participation in inspections or emergency measures were opposed by the FSC, which argues that such involvement would complicate supervision and burden market players.

The regulatory uncertainty is creating anxiety within the virtual asset sector, as stablecoin institutionalization is seen as key to expanding practical applications like payments, remittances, and on-chain financial services. Legal ambiguity around issuance qualifications and supervision is hindering project development, with some banks and fintech companies considering consortium models but unable to proceed fully due to the lack of clear standards. Prolonged delays may push the market toward adopting foreign regulatory frameworks or foreign-currency-backed stablecoins.

The resolution of this dispute is viewed as pivotal for the future direction of Korea’s digital asset industry. The finalized approach to stablecoin issuance and supervision will determine whether the market becomes bank-centric or remains open to diverse private-sector participants. Industry stakeholders warn that overly narrow issuer scopes risk entrenching banks as dominant players, while overly broad regulation raises concerns about reserve asset management and de-pegging risks. The distribution of supervisory authority and safeguards will shape both the sector’s growth speed and its credibility.

Joongang Ilbo | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Natural Disasters

Following a magnitude 7.5 earthquake off the coast of Aomori Prefecture in northeastern Japan on December 8, 2025, Korean travelers planning trips to Sapporo are expressing growing anxiety and reconsidering their plans. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a "major aftershock advisory" for the first time ever, warning of a higher-than-usual risk of large aftershocks, with Hokkaido among the regions advised to prepare for a possible major quake. Japanese authorities have cautioned that up to 199,000 deaths could occur in a worst-case scenario.

Despite heightened concerns, flight cancellations remain limited as of December 10, though travelers are vigilant. Some tourists report unease based on experiences like elevator failures in hotels and local advisories recommending emergency food supplies for a week. One traveler mentioned purchasing the most expensive travel insurance and researching emergency responses amid reports of a potential 3-meter tsunami.

Travel agencies have received inquiries about the status of tourist sites and hotel operations, and aviation representatives continue to monitor cancellation trends. The Japan National Tourism Organization recommends using their safety app for real-time alerts and advises travelers to keep contact information for the Korean Embassy in Japan and to carry extra cash in case of payment system disruptions.