Experience Jeju at a Leisurely Pace

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One of the main reasons people go on vacation is to get rid of stress. The stress-relieving powers of simple things such as enjoying a good meal or buying some new shoes are amplified when on vacation! Everything tastes better and looks better, even your home. Jeju Island is the perfect place to relax, with a natural environment, delicious local foods, and unique shopping opportunities. Set out now for your very own stress-relieving trip to Jeju-do!
There are a number of smaller islands around Jeju, including Udo and Marado Islands. These days, Gapado Island, the fourth largest island, has become a popular day-trip destination. The island resembles a swimming ray when seen from above. The island is most visited during spring, when the fields of green barley are waving in the sea breeze.


Setting off for Gapado Island
The ferry to Gapado Island departs from Unjinhang Harbor in Hamo-ri, Seogwipo-si off the southwest coast. The ferry from Unjinhang Harbor operates from 09:00 to 16:00, although the last ferry back from Gapado Island is at 16:20. Tickets are purchased as a round-trip set, so if you leave after 15:00, you’ll have to spend the night on the island and return the next morning. Tickets must be purchased at least 40 minutes before departure, in order for all passengers to be recorded. On-site ticket purchase is available but you may have to wait a few hours until the next ferry if you visit during the peak season. It’s recommended to reserve tickets in advance, either online or over the phone. Foreigners must submit their passport for verification when purchasing or picking up their ticket on-site.

Fun on Gapado Island
The best way to see all the island has to offer in a short amount of time is by renting a bicycle. The bike rental is located right at the harbor, so you can’t miss it! There are both regular and tandem bicycles for rent, at a rate of 5,000 won and 10,000 won respectively. Payment is only accepted in cash, so be sure to plan ahead if you want to rent one.
There is a circular road around the coast of the island that offers beautiful sights of the sea, but don’t forget the interior of the island. One place you must see is Somang Observation Deck. Located at the highest point of the island, both Marado Island to the south and Hallasan Mountain to the north can be seen from the observation deck. The railings of the deck are decorated with many ribbons with wishes and hopes, somang in Korean, written on them, giving the location its name.
Another attraction on the island is Pang Gallery, dedicated to the unique painting style of women in the Mithila region of the Indian subcontinent. The art is created with natural dyes and pigments, using fingers and twigs as brushes. The paintings generally focus on nature, daily life, or Hindu gods and goddesses.

Eat your stress away

Special treat of the island
There are a number of local specialties on Gapado Island, foremost of which is green barley ice cream! This soft serve ice cream is popular among all ages, and the pale green color makes for beautiful photos. The ice cream can be ordered in a cup or cone, both of which are served with a small ppeongtwigi (rice puff) snack.
Other snacks on the island include green barley makgeolli (rice wine) and green barley misutgaru (roasted grain drink). All these treats can be found at the convenience stores and snack bars around the harbor. We recommend buying snacks to enjoy while you wait for the ferry to return.

Pier 22
Being an island, it’s obvious that some of the best foods you’ll find in Jeju are seafood dishes! If you’re looking for a dish favored by locals, try the red-banded lobster jjim (steamed lobster) from Pier 22 near Geumneungeutteum Beach. Red-banded lobsters are a unique species of lobster with a hard, sharp shell, found only the in southern sea around Korea. Because of the hard shell, the restaurant gives each diner a small wooden hammer to crack the shell! The sweet lobster meat tastes great dipped in ranch dressing.

Umu Pudding
Umu Pudding is a special dessert found only on Jeju Island! The name umu comes from the Korean word for red algae, umutgasari. When it is boiled, it releases a gelatin substance, known as agar. The red algae used at Umu Pudding is harvested by haenyeo, female divers of Jeju. You can choose from three flavors, the standard custard, matcha-flavored, or chocolate pudding. The shop also sells products with an Umu character design that make for great souvenirs. Before leaving, be sure to get a few pictures of the sweet interior!

Black pork
The most famous food from Jeju is heukdwaeji, otherwise known as black pork! Jeju’s local black pigs have played an important part in the history, culture, and livelihood of the island. Grilled black pork tastes best after being dipped in meljeot (salted anchovy) for about 20 seconds. To eat like a Korean, wrap the meat and some pamuchim(spicy spring onions) in a lettuce or perilla leaf.

Pork noodles
You can eat guksu (noodles) anywhere in Korea, but gogi guksu (pork noodles) is a specialty of Jeju! Each bowl is filled with noodles and pork slices for a filling meal. The pork adds to the powerful flavor of the broth. The dish is served plain but chili pepper powder can be added to taste. Even if you add a lot to make it super spicy, the broth maintains its flavor.

Beltfish & mackerel dishes
Before leaving Jeju, you have to try galchi (beltfish) or godeungeo (mackerel). These two fish can be served a variety of ways, although the most common are stewed and fried; spicy stewed beltfish is the most popular. The taste of stewed beltfish will vary slightly by restaurant, but they are all marked by their strong seasoning. The spicy yet slightly sweet flavor is addicting! Most restaurants in Jeju use a local silver beltfish, which has an even stronger taste. Radish and potatoes are also stewed with the beltfish for a full meal.

Retail therapy

Sumokwon Night Market
Sumokwon Night Market is the latest trending location for nightlife in Jeju! Located near Halla Arboretum, the market draws in as many tourists as the popular night markets in Seoul. The entire area is decorated in cute photo zones and features both local specialty products and handmade items. Purchase some of the foods available from the food trucks, such as giant turkey drumsticks, black pork ribs, or fresh pineapple juice, to quench any late-night cravings!

Jeju Local Products Exhibition & Sales Market
Jeju has developed a unique culture due to being so far separated from the Korean peninsula. Thanks to this, there are plenty of local products that will please anyone who receives one as a gift! The best place to visit for these special souvenir items is the Jeju Local Products Exhibition & Sales Market. The market has over 2,200 items created by 138 individual shops! You’re sure to find something for everyone here; just be sure you don’t forget a gift for yourself!

More info
▶ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay)

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Korea Records Highest-ever Monthly Exports

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South Korea recorded its highest-ever monthly exports — surpassing the US$120 billion mark — last month, thereby exceeding $800 billion in annual exports for the first time in history.
Semiconductors, the nation’s key export product, generated over $60 billion in revenue — accounting for 49.9% of total exports — while the trade surplus neared $50 billion.
This marks the first-time monthly exports have exceeded $120 billion, shattering the previous record of $102 billion set in June. Driven by this performance, cumulative exports from January to September reached $814.5 billion, easily surpassing the record annual total of $709.3 billion set last year.
Semiconductor exports in September hit $60.3 billion, a massive 262.8% increase year-on-year, marking the first time the sector has crossed the $60 billion threshold. This surge followed three consecutive months of exports exceeding $40 billion.

The semiconductor sector maintained strong momentum, fueled by sustained demand for memory chips, increased export volumes, and rising fixed prices. Prices steadily climbed; for instance, the price of DDR5 16Gb chips rose from $37.50 in May to $48.00 last month, while NAND 128Gb chips increased from $26.50 to $30.60 over the same period.
Other IT products also showed strong performance. Computer exports surged by 435.3%, driven by rising demand for enterprise-grade solid-state drives (SSDs) — a trend fueled by the proliferation of agentic AI and expanded global investment in AI infrastructure. Exports of computers reached $7 billion, marking an all-time monthly high.
Exports of wireless communication devices climbed by 23.4% to $2.14 billion — extending a streak of growth to 11 consecutive months — driven by strong sales of premium models like the Galaxy Z8 series and S26 Ultra, as well as increased exports of iPhone components.
Exports of items excluding semiconductors increased by 23%. Among the top 20 major export categories, 11 saw growth, including petroleum products ($7.22 billion, up 72.0%), petrochemicals ($3.95 billion, up 5.1%), and ships ($3.76 billion, up 29.9%).
Steel exports ($2.24 billion, up 3.3%) remained steady, driven by rising demand from AI data centers in the United States, despite tightened regulations such as U.S. tariffs and the EU’s introduction of import quotas, also known as tariff-rate quotas (TRQs).
Automobile exports fell by 5.5% due to a base effect caused by the shifting timing of the Chuseok holiday and sluggish used-car exports, while exports of agricultural and fishery products declined by 4.7%, partly due to fewer working days.
Cosmetic exports hit an all-time high of $1.51 billion (up 31.4%), showing broad-based growth across key markets including China, the USA, ASEAN, and the EU.
By region, exports increased in six out of nine areas. Exports to China grew by 122.7% to $26.01 billion, while exports to the United States increased 137.0% to $24.33 billion. Exports to ASEAN ($21.29 billion) also surpassed the $20 billion mark for the first time, driven by steady growth across major items such as semiconductors, petroleum products, and ships.


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Plasma Medical Devices

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[INQ. NO. 2610E05] FEAGLE Co., Ltd., a company specializing in plasma medical devices, has been focusing its R&D efforts on the field of plasma medicine, an area gaining attention as next-generation medical technology.
Over the past 12 years of plasma technology research, FEAGLE has expanded its product lineup to include everything from medical devices for hospitals and clinics to equipment for aesthetic clinics and beauty devices for home care.
Its core technology is the proprietary Nozone Cold Plasma (NCP). According to FEAGLE, NCP is designed to maintain the characteristics of cold plasma while minimizing ozone generation during the plasma-production process — reducing levels to less than one-tenth of the standards set by the FDA and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

FEAGLE is expanding the scope of its technology beyond professional equipment to include homecare products for consumers. Its flagship product, PLUNA, is a personal plasma beauty device based on NCP technology; it brings plasma technology — previously reserved for professional facilities — into the realm of everyday skincare.
PLUNA features a portable, handheld design and is engineered to enable plasma-based homecare, while minimizing direct physical irritation to the skin. The company’s strategy is to target both professional and consumer markets by applying the same core plasma technology to products for clinics and home-use alike.

Alongside its technological development, FEAGLE is accelerating its expansion into overseas markets. It is currently selling products or conducting local medical device certification and pre-marketing activities in regions including Hong Kong, the USA, Mexico, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Russia. In particular, viewing the United States as a key market, FEAGLE has spent approximately a year conducting local testing and market validation, and is now moving to significantly expand sales based on these results. FEAGLE is also pursuing medical-device certification in countries such as Mexico, Russia, and Thailand, with plans to expand local distribution and marketing once certification is secured.
In the long term, FEAGLE plans to develop its NCP technology into a platform capable of overcoming the limitations — such as physical irritation and invasiveness — associated with conventional medical and beauty devices. With the demand for non-invasive treatments and care steadily rising, the company aims to expand its plasma technology into a diverse range of medical and aesthetic products, thereby tapping into new application markets.




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Healthcare Medical Devices

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[INQ. NO. 2610E04] 3H Co., Ltd. recently unveiled its healthcare medical devices and various acupressure bed products developed using spinal acupoint acupressure and thermal technologies.
Leveraging its proprietary technology and manufacturing capabilities, the company has built a product lineup centered on acupressure beds. Recently, it has expanded its business scope into the health and beauty sectors, strengthening its product portfolio to cater to diverse consumer lifestyles.
Its flagship acupressure bed is a healthcare medical device that combines acupressure, moxibustion, and massage functions, delivering acupoint acupressure and thermal stimulation along the spine. Designed for use while lying down, the bed stimulates key areas of the body and applies heat to help alleviate muscle pain and support daily health management.

3H is also focusing on product development that considers not only functionality but also home integration and design. Moving beyond the traditional image of medical devices, the company incorporates forms and materials that blend naturally into living spaces — while enhancing both usability and aesthetics to make health management more convenient for consumers.
Accordingly, 3H is expanding its business footprint in overseas markets. Currently, the company exports products to key nations such as the USA, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Canada, and Australia. It also consistently participates in global exhibitions, including CES (Las Vegas, USA), Medi-Pharm (Hanoi, Vietnam), the K-Product Premium Consumer Goods Fair (France), medical device exhibitions in Guangzhou and Shanghai (China), and the Jakarta International Hospital Expo (Indonesia).

3H is securing country-specific product certifications and advancing related procedures in major markets — including the United States, China, Japan, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Europe, Canada, and Australia — while strengthening its distribution infrastructure through overseas subsidiaries and local distributor networks. It also plans to enhance product technology and credibility by collaborating with overseas medical institutions and conducting clinical research.
In particular, given the importance of firsthand product experience for its acupressure beds, 3H is focusing on conveying product functions and user experiences through local exhibitions and experiential marketing activities.


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Seated Healthcare Device

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[INQ. NO. 2610E03] Established in 2019, Samhwa Medical develops and manufactures healthcare products designed for convenient daily use, primarily under its ‘SOMOKO’ brand.
Samhwa Medical has been expanding its home-care product lineup through presenting various products such as ‘SERAFION’ and ‘Body Love.’ The SERAFION SM-2300 is a seated healthcare device designed for modular use. It combines the following functions: thermal, vibration, magnetic field, and LED light care — allowing users to reconfigure the device to suit different body parts, such as the waist, abdomen, and limbs.
The device features a total of 440 dual-wavelength LEDs, comprising 220 near-infrared LEDs and 220 red-light LEDs that operate in conjunction with the thermal function. The heat level is adjustable across five settings ranging from 35°C to 55°C. Additionally, the device integrates three vibration modes and magnetic field therapy, providing comprehensive home-care capabilities in a single unit.

Notably, it features a three-way structure that allows the top and bottom panels to be used in flat, folded, or separated configurations. Users can unfold the device to treat areas like the feet or legs, fold it to wrap around specific body parts, or detach the panels to apply them to different areas simultaneously.

The top panel utilizes a wireless design powered by two 3,000mAh batteries for enhanced portability and ease of use on various body parts, while the bottom panel operates on a DC 15V/90W power supply. The included adapter supports a voltage range of 100–240V, making it suitable for use in overseas markets.
Samhwa Medical has already obtained KC certification for electrical safety and electromagnetic wave for its SERAFION SM-2300, and Samhwa Medical is currently pursuing CE, FCC, and PSE certifications to facilitate expansion into European, U.S., and Japanese markets. The company plans to target various overseas markets — including Japan, Taiwan, and European nations like Germany and France — and is preparing to identify local distribution partners.
Samhwa Medical focuses its product development on enabling consumers who find it difficult to frequently visit hospitals or specialized care facilities to manage their health conveniently at home. Its primary target demographics include office workers who sit for long periods, individuals experiencing physical fatigue from housework or childcare, and customers seeking homecare products for their parents’ health management.




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Medical Device for Skin Treatment

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[INQ. NO. 2610E02] JSDR has been focused on addressing skin problems that are difficult to treat with conventional aesthetic procedures — such as deep wrinkles and depressed scars — by developing the SDR treatment method and its dedicated medical equipment. Rather than simply delivering energy to the skin, the device focuses on enabling medical professionals to precisely control the process of micro-injecting necessary substances into specific locations.
JUVGEN, the company’s flagship product, is designed for SDR procedures that involve the micro-injection of CO₂ and hyaluronic acid (HA) into the dermal layer of the skin. JSDR explains that the core principle of SDR is inducing skin tissue regeneration and collagen formation through the precise delivery of these two substances to the treatment area.

A key feature of JUVGEN is its precision in micro-injection. The device allows for injection volume control in increments as small as 0.001cc, enabling medical professionals to fine-tune treatment parameters according to the specific area and the patient’s skin condition. It is designed to ensure consistent management of injection volume and placement, which is crucial for aesthetic procedures requiring precision over relatively small areas, such as deep wrinkles and sunk scars.
Additionally, by integrating the use of both CO₂ and HA into a single system, the device minimizes potential inconsistencies associated with repetitive manual steps and streamlines the treatment workflow. The company developed its product by combining the precision control capabilities of the equipment with a procedure that previously relied solely on the practitioner’s experience, thereby enhancing the reproducibility and ease of use of SDR treatments.

The starting point for product development was the treatment method itself rather than the equipment alone. After researching Autologous Dermal Regeneration (SDR) — a technique applicable to deep wrinkles and depressed scars — JSDR developed JUVGEN, a dedicated device designed to enable medical professionals to perform the procedure with greater accuracy and consistency.
Consequently, JUVGEN was designed as a comprehensive system that integrates the treatment protocol with the hardware, rather than serving merely as an injection device. Medical professionals can configure necessary treatment parameters and monitor progress via the touchscreen on the front of the unit, while an intuitive user interface ensures quick access to essential functions during the procedure.
JUVGEN’s handpiece incorporates a dual-chamber syringe system that combines two injection pathways into a single structure. This design enables the precise delivery of CO₂ and HA during the procedure and minimizes the need for medical professionals to repeatedly switch instruments. In particular, the section of the handpiece that makes direct contact with the skin is designed to allow for stable operation, while enabling the practitioner to verify the injection site. A key feature is the integration of the settings configured on the main unit with the handpiece’s precision injection mechanism, allowing the entire procedure to be managed within a unified system.

Efforts are being stepped up to promote JUVGEN and SDR in overseas markets. To this end, JSDR is collaborating with local medical device distributors and aesthetic medicine professionals, primarily in Asia, and is gradually broadening its export reach by securing necessary regulatory approvals and distribution partners in each country.
Furthermore, by participating in major global aesthetic medicine conferences and exhibitions — such as IMCAS and AMWC— the company introduces international medical professionals to the SDR procedure and JUVGEN’s precision injection technology. The strategy goes beyond mere equipment exports: it aims to introduce the new procedural method itself to overseas markets by simultaneously establishing training programs for medical professionals and building clinical networks.


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Korea Continues Remarkable Export Drives

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Ceaselessly Presenting New Competitive Items
South Korea recorded its highest-ever monthly exports — surpassing the $120 billion mark — last month, thereby exceeding $800 billion in annual exports for the first time in history.
Semiconductor exports in September hit $60.3 billion, a massive 262.8% increase year-on-year, marking the first time the sector has crossed the $60 billion threshold. This surge followed three consecutive months of exports exceeding $40 billion.
The semiconductor sector maintained strong momentum, fueled by sustained demand for memory chips, increased export volumes, and rising fixed prices. Prices steadily climbed; for instance, the price of DDR5 16Gb chips rose from $37.50 in May to $48.00 last month, while NAND 128Gb chips increased from $26.50 to $30.60 over the same period.

Other IT products also showed strong performance. Computer exports surged by 435.3%, driven by rising demand for enterprise-grade solid-state drives (SSDs) — a trend fueled by the proliferation of agentic AI and expanded global investment in AI infrastructure. Exports reached $7 billion, marking an all-time monthly high.
Exports of wireless communication devices climbed by 23.4% to $2.14 billion — extending a streak of growth to 11 consecutive months — driven by strong sales of premium models like the Galaxy Z8 series and S26 Ultra, as well as increased exports of iPhone components.

While accomplishing such remarkable export performance, Korean export companies are ceaselessly releasing new competitive products and knocking on the doors of global markets. Creative efforts are ceaselessly being made toward accomplishing their higher export performance goals for this year.
Samhwa Medical has been expanding its homecare product lineup through presenting various products such as SERAFION and Body Love. The SERAFION SM-2300 is a seated healthcare device designed for modular use. It combines the following functions: thermal, vibration, magnetic field, and LED light care — allowing users to reconfigure the device to suit different body parts, such as the waist, abdomen, and limbs.
FEAGLE, a company specializing in plasma medical devices, is expanding the scope of its technology beyond professional equipment to include homecare products for consumers. Its flagship product, PLUNA, is a personal plasma beauty device based on NCP technology; it brings plasma technology — previously reserved for professional facilities — into the realm of everyday skincare. PLUNA features a portable, handheld design and is engineered to enable plasma-based homecare while minimizing direct physical irritation to the skin.




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Next-generation Visual Solutions

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[INQ. NO. 2610E01] KMS Partner Co., Ltd., established in 2013, is a Korean technology venture specializing in smart beam projectors under its premium brand, ‘ZEUS.’ The company holds multiple patents and is certified by the Korean government for its technological excellence.
Actively participating in global exhibitions such as CES, IFA, and MWC, the company has successfully expanded into Europe, Southeast Asia, and the United States.

ZEUS DLP Mini Beam Projector
The ZEUS DLP Mini Beam is a compact and high-performance projector designed for home, travel, and business use. It features auto-focus and auto-keystone correction for fast and easy setup and supports full HD display up to 150 inches.
With Android/iOS wireless mirroring and Bluetooth speaker mode, it offers both convenience and functionality. The device incorporates a patented low-noise, low-heat cooling system (Patent No. 10-2802223) and is protected by design patent No. 30-1216611 for its sleek appearance.

ZEUS LED Beam Projector
The ZEUS LED model is optimized for bright environments and outdoor applications. It delivers vivid LED color projection and supports popular streaming apps via a built-in smart operating system. Installation is quick with ±40° auto-keystone correction and digital zoom for flexible screen adjustment.
The projector features lightweight, durable construction and incorporates a patented cooling system (Patent No. 10-2802223), while being protected by design patent No. 30-1311608. Thanks to its energy-efficient and eco-conscious design, it is perfectly suited for education, travel, outdoor entertainment, and camping adventures.

“We are delivering premium, portable visual technology that addresses the rising demand for mobility, clarity, and smart functionality. With continuous investment in smart innovation, our ZEUS brand is becoming a global leader in next-generation display solutions,” explained the company’s CEO.
ZEUS is rooted in Korean innovation, driven by government-certified R&D and proprietary technologies. Its excellence is internationally recognized through exhibitions such as CES, MWC, and IFA, with growing success in European markets.
Furthermore, ZEUS projectors are designed for today’s lifestyle ― offering versatility across various sectors including home entertainment, education, solo living, travel, and business. Through AI and IoT integration, ZEUS provides future-ready smart visual solutions for an increasingly connected world.


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Samsung Electronics’ Aggressive Sales Efforts to Secure Clients from Taiwan’s TSMC

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Following the flood of orders of semiconductors for big tech companies from TSMC, Samsung Electronics expects higher numbers of orders, ramping up sales efforts and local hiring.

Samsung Electronics is expanding its aggressive sales efforts to secure clients from Taiwan’s TSMC, including the recent recruitment of foundry sales staff in San Jose, California.
According to a job posting by Samsung Electronics’ U.S. semiconductor division, the company is recruiting personnel to secure new clients and expand business with existing ones, stating that its foundry business is rapidly expanding.
Samsung Electronics Foundry has recently been pursuing aggressive sales because TSMC has been unable to fully meet the demands of existing customers for advanced-node semiconductor manufacturing, leading to full-fledged spillover effects as TSMC seeks production from Samsung Foundry.

TSMC recently announced its plans to significantly increase production capacity for advanced process nodes. According to Taiwanese media, the company intends to increase its output of 2nm and 3nm semiconductors by about 20% by the first half of next year. It will also manufacture 2nm and 3nm fabs in Phoenix, Arizona and Kumamoto, Japan, with full-scale operations scheduled to begin in the second half of next year.
Samsung Electronics, during its earnings conference call last July, confirmed that “spillover effects were translating into actual orders,” stating that it had secured 2nm projects from a major cloud service providers (CSPs) and AI and high-performance computing (HPC) clients.
Following Nvidia, collaboration with Broadcom, the world’s second-largest fabless company is also increasing the likelihood of securing AI chip orders from big-tech firms. Last July, Samsung Electronics agreed to pursue a partnership with Broadcom valued at over USD 200 billion in the memory and foundry sectors by 2030.
The industry views the next two to three years as the ‘golden time’ that will determine the future of Samsung Foundry. This is because this period is when TSMC’s advanced process fabs are set to begin full-scale operation but before the foundry business of Intel in the United States and Rapidus in Japan are gaining momentum.




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Korea Zinc and LS MnM Expand into Semiconductor Materials

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Korea Zinc to expand capacity to 500,000 tons annually

LS MnM expands nickel sulfate production

Korea’s top two smelters, Korea Zinc Inc. and LS MnM Inc. have identified sulfuric acid as a key new growth engine and are actively expanding production. Sulfuric acid can be produced domestically as a byproduct of the zinc and copper smelting process, even without the raw material sulfur.
While sulfuric acid was once primarily used for fertilizer, its territory has recently expanded to include key materials for advanced industries such as semiconductors and batteries. Large quantities of ultra-high-purity sulfuric acid are used in semiconductor manufacturing to wash away impurities from wafers. It is also essential for producing nickel sulfate and cobalt sulfate, which are raw materials for battery cathode materials.
According to the smelting industry, Korea Zinc plans to expand its semiconductor cleaning sulfuric acid production line from 280,000 tons to 320,000 tons annually, starting in the second half of this year. This is to proactively respond to the trend of expanding domestic semiconductor investments, such as Samsung Electronics’ construction of additional production lines at its Pyeongtaek site.

Korea Zinc is currently producing 280,000 tons of sulfuric acid for semiconductors annually across 19 lines at the Ulsan Onsan Smelter. The company plans to expand capacity to 500,000 tons per year in the long term. Separately, the company intends to build a production line with an annual capacity of 100,000 tons at the integrated smelter currently under construction in Tennessee, USA, to supply domestic semiconductor companies operating in the United States, starting in 2029.
LS MnM, the only copper-smelting company in Korea, is also benefiting from the soaring sulfuric acid prices. Instead of releasing into the atmosphere the sulfur dioxide gases emitted during the copper smelting process, LS MnM recovers it entirely and converts it into sulfuric acid.
The company plans to use this recovered sulfuric acid in the nickel and cobalt leaching processes at its Onsan battery materials plant, which is scheduled to be completed later this year, to produce nickel sulfate and cobalt sulfate.
As of this month, the spot price for sulfuric acid (98%) in East Asia is trading at around USD 300 per ton. This represents more than a threefold increase compared to the same period last year, when it traded at approximately USD 90 per ton.
August selling price set by KPC, a Kuwait state-owned sulfur company, is USD 865 per ton, which is more than triple the price of USD 259 per ton recorded in July of last year. The price of the raw material is higher than the finished product because one ton of sulfur can yield approximately three tons of sulfuric acid.




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