Semiconductors, a word that sounds profound, are actually indispensable chips in our daily lives. From mobile phones to computers, from cars to airplanes, from refrigerators to air conditioners, almost all electronic devices need chips to function. The manufacturing and development of chips directly affects the development of global science and technology and economic competition. And in this chip war, there is one country that has performed particularly eye-catching, and that is South Korea.
South Korea recently officially announced that in the first half of 2023, its chip exports have reached1.$1 trillion, a year-on-year increase, an all-time high. This achievement has allowed South Korea to occupy the global chip market20% share, second only to the United States at 47%., far more than China's
South Korea's chip industry mainly relies on two giants, Samsung and SK hynix, which focus on the production of memory chips and logic chips, respectively. These two companies are not only ahead of other countries in terms of technology, but they are also expanding their scale in investment to meet the growing market demand.
South Korea's chip exports have skyrocketed, attracting the attention of foreign media. Some foreign media believe that South Korea's chip industry is supported by the United States and uses the Chinese market to achieve its own development. They even said that China still can't do without South Korea's chips, because China's chip industry is still very backward and has no independent research and development capabilities, so it can only rely on imports. Is there any truth to these claims?
Some foreign media believe that South Korea's chip industry is a follower of the United States, and it is under the guidance of American technology and policy that such achievements can be achieved. They believe that South Korea's chip industry has seized market share from Japan and China under US sanctions, and it is under the encouragement of the United States that it has increased exports to China, and it is under the protection of the United States that it can avoid China's competition and retaliation.
These statements may sound reasonable, but if we analyze them carefully, we will find that these claims are untenable. First of all, South Korea's chip industry is not a follower of the United States, but has its own technology and innovation capabilities.
South Korea's chip industry, since the 80s of the last century, has formed its own R&D system, and has launched fierce competition with chip companies in the United States, Japan, Europe and other countries. South Korea's chip companies have not only achieved a leading position in memory chips, but also continue to catch up in logic chips, and have now achieved a 5nm process level, keeping pace with Intel in the United States and TSMC in Taiwan.
South Korea's chip companies have also made a lot of investment and exploration in new chip fields, such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, biochips, etc., showing strong innovation capabilities. South Korea's chip industry does not rely on American technology, but on its own technology to occupy a place in the global market.
Some foreign media believe that South Korea's chip industry relies on the Chinese market to achieve such growth. They believe that China is South Korea's largest chip export market, accounting for more than 50% of South Korea's chip exports, and is the lifeblood of South Korea's chip industry.
They believe that China's chip demand is the main driving force of South Korea's chip industry and the guarantee of South Korea's chip industry. They believe that China's chip industry is the largest customer of South Korea's chip industry and a partner of South Korea's chip industry. These statements may sound reasonable, but if we analyze them carefully, we will find that they are biased.
First of all, South Korea's chip industry does not rely on the Chinese market, but on the global market to achieve such growth. South Korea's chip industry, although it has a large share of the Chinese market, does not only rely on the Chinese market, but has a wide range of customers and partners in the global market.
South Korea's chip industry, not only in China, but also in the United States, Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia and other regions, has stable demand and **. South Korea's chip industry has diversified products and services not only in memory chips, but also in logic chips, display chips, sensor chips and other fields. South Korea's chip industry does not rely on the Chinese market, but on the global market, in order to achieve such achievements in the global market.
Some foreign media believe that South Korea's chip industry is China's partner and has a deep cooperation and complementary relationship with China's chip industry. They believe that South Korea's chip industry is an important business in China's chip industry, and it provides high-quality chips and technical support for China's chip industry.
These statements may sound reasonable, but a closer analysis will show that they are overlooked. First of all, South Korea's chip industry is not a partner of China, but a competitor of China, a rival for share and profits in the global chip market.
South Korea's chip industry, although it has a certain influence and contribution to China's chip industry, does not unconditionally support and help China's chip industry, but will cooperate and trade with China's chip industry in the case of its own benefit.
South Korea's chip industry, not only in China, but also in other parts of the world, has launched fierce competition with China's chip industry, constantly seizing the market and customers, and constantly reducing costs and improving efficiency. South Korea's chip industry is not a partner of China, but a competitor of China, so that it can maintain its own advantages and competitiveness in the global market.
South Korea's chip exports soared by 129%, which is a phenomenon worthy of attention and analysis. This phenomenon reflects the status and role of South Korea's chip industry in the global chip market, and also reflects the relationship and situation of South Korea's chip industry with China's and the United States' chip industry.
South Korea's chip industry is neither a follower of the United States nor a partner of China, but has its own technology and innovation, its own strategy and interests, and its own competition and challenges. South Korea's chip industry is a model worthy of our Xi and reference, and it is also a partner worthy of our respect and cooperation.