Technology & Cyber
South Korea in August 2025: A month in review and what’s ahead
An analytical look at the main developments from August 1 to 29, 2025, and key outlook for September 2025
September 1, 2025
US tightens export controls on Samsung and SK Hynix’s China-based fabs
Washington ends Biden-era waivers, requiring new licenses that block expansions and upgrades, raising supply chain risks
September 1, 2025
US equity push in Samsung raises sovereignty fears ahead of Trump-Lee summit
White House plan to convert CHIPS Act subsidies into stakes in chipmakers triggers alarm over industrial autonomy
August 22, 2025
South Korea extends review of Google’s mapping data export amid US trade tension
Tariff deal without written terms could make mapping dispute a bargaining chip for Trump and Lee as lobbying accelerates
August 11, 2025
Samsung’s headline-grabbing Tesla chip deal masks its foundry limitations
$16.4B contract does little to address conglomerate’s structural weaknesses, threatening Seoul’s AI and chip ambitions
July 30, 2025
Samsung lands $16.4B Tesla chip deal, but foundry gap with TSMC remains wide
With just 7.7% market share, Samsung still trails TSMC by a wide margin despite record-setting contract volume
July 29, 2025
Dueling US-China AI plans raise compliance risks for South Korean firms
Washington and Beijing push competing AI standards, pressuring Seoul to choose or straddle rival governance regimes
July 28, 2025
Trump tariffs pressure Seoul, BOK holds steady and Samsung slips — Ep. 87
Korea Pro dissects Seoul’s trade-security strategy, economic stress signals and Samsung’s faltering chip position
July 11, 2025
Samsung’s Q2 profit plunge raises alarms for South Korea’s tech resilience
Q2 margin falls to 6.2% as Samsung struggles in AI chip supply chain and US finalizes tariff probe into semiconductors
July 10, 2025
South Korea’s AI centralization plan risks backfire without institutional buy-in
Efforts to sideline the finance ministry and empower technocrats face untested leadership and delivery risks
July 7, 2025
