Korea’s AI memory boom raises once-unthinkable question: Could SK Hynix overtake Samsung? - KED Global

The rapid development of South Korea's AI memory industry has raised an unprecedented question: could SK Hynix overtake Samsung? This issue emerges from the debut of Korea's first single-stock leverag... Read original →

The launch of Korea’s first single-stock leveraged ETFs isn’t just a financial innovation—it’s a strategic revaluation of the AI memory race. SK Hynix, leveraging its HBM3E lead, is wresting key clients like NVIDIA from Samsung, triggering ripple effects across advanced packaging (e.g., CoWoS) and AI server architectures. Yet geopolitical friction is inflating compliance costs: U.S. export controls compel both Korean giants to build dual-track capacities for China and the West, escalating capex and supply chain complexity. In response, Samsung will likely accelerate 3D DRAM and CXL-based memory development, possibly securing U.S. client loyalty through foundry partnerships or IP cross-licensing. Over the next 18 months, HBM demand from AI clusters will sustain >30% annual growth—but the impending HBM4 transition will narrow the technology window, making product definition—not just scale—the decisive factor in market valuation.