EWY ETF Assets Jump To $23 Billion, But Samsung and SK Hynix Risks Remain - Benzinga

The EWY ETF's asset base has surged to $23 billion, reflecting strong international investor interest in South Korean semiconductor companies. While this capital inflow demonstrates market optimism to... Read original →

The EWY ETF’s surge to $23 billion reflects global anticipation of a memory cycle rebound, not just enthusiasm for Korean equities. Technically, Samsung and SK Hynix’s aggressive push into HBM3E and GDDR7 is forcing TSMC to expand CoWoS capacity, indirectly benefiting equipment suppliers in Taiwan, China. Yet tightening U.S.-led export controls on advanced lithography and packaging tools are inflating compliance costs and jeopardizing supply chain continuity. With Micron capturing early AI-DRAM traction and YMTC expanding NAND exports via third markets, Korean giants must secure long-term client commitments within the next 12 months or risk capital inflows failing to translate into earnings resilience. A potential rift in the U.S.-ROK tech alliance amid escalating geopolitical friction could structurally undermine their global positioning.