US chip export curbs on China leave Samsung unscathed, for now

The latest US export controls banning shipments of high-bandwidth memory chips to China are expected to have a limited impact on Korean chipmakers, mainly Samsung Electronics. But the restrictions could result in lost opportunities to acquire new customers, experts said Tuesday. The US Bureau of Industry and Security announced Monday a new set of measures banning the export of critical chips and chip equipment, including HBM, advanced chip packages of stacked DRAM chips. The cutting-edge chips a

Dec. 3, 2024

Samsung promotes tech-savvy execs to tackle challenges

Samsung Electronics on Friday promoted a total of 137 executives in a year-end reshuffle, including tech-savvy executives with strong achievements in their respective areas, with a goal of reviving stagnant business performance. The total number of promotions is slightly down from last year’s 143, and includes 35 new vice presidents and 92 new managing directors. “Samsung Electronics carried out a major personnel reshuffle strictly based on the principle of meritocracy, with an aim t

Nov. 29, 2024

Samsung, SK hynix in rush to secure chip subsidies in US

Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, the nation’s top two chipmakers, are apparently in a rush to secure subsidies for their massive facility spending in recent years in the US, following a fresh threat from President-elect Donald Trump that he could cancel the promised Chips Act federal funding. On Monday, Vivek Ramaswamy, one of the leaders selected by Trump to head the proposed Department of Government Efficiency alongside Tesla founder Elon Musk, hinted at the possibility of subsidy cuts,

Nov. 28, 2024

Samsung shakes up management, commits to reviving chip business

Samsung Electronics, the world's leading smartphone and memory chip maker, announced a management reshuffle on Wednesday, replacing the top brass at its sluggish chipmaking business division. While retaining the company's three vice chairs for management stability, the company replaced the foundry business chief and created two new positions to enhance operational efficiency. "The company sought to overcome uncertain internal and external business challenges and aim for a new brea

Nov. 27, 2024

Samsung entangled in legal risks amid calls for drastic reform

As Samsung Electronics is grappling with multiple challenges including poor earnings and technological setbacks, the conglomerate's chaebol chief has publicly acknowledged the struggles for the first time. With chairman Lee Jae-yong pledging to tackle the difficulties, the tech giant is expected to introduce some drastic changes, including a major personnel reshuffle anticipated this week. In the final hearing of a retrial on allegations including stock manipulation related to a controversi

Nov. 26, 2024

Prosecutors seek 5-year prison term for Samsung chief in merger retrial

Prosecutors requested five years in prison and a fine of 500 million won ($356,000) for Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong on Monday, in the final hearing of a retrial over suspected stock manipulation related to a high-profile 2015 merger case. The prosecution had appealed in February immediately after a lower court acquitted Lee of all 19 charges it had filed. In the appellate court on Monday, the prosecution kept to their original claims, insisting the chief of the country's large

Nov. 25, 2024

Nvidia CEO signals Samsung’s imminent shipment of AI chips

Samsung Electronics, the world's largest memory chip maker, is expected to supply its cutting-edge chips to the top graphics processing unit maker Nvidia soon, stepping closer to securing a footing in the lucrative AI chip market. Speaking on the sidelines of a convocation ceremony at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology on Saturday, Nvidia CEO and founder Jensen Huang told Bloomberg Television that the company is "working as fast as it can to certify Samsung's AI memory

Nov. 24, 2024

Mixed reactions as Korea seeks to lift 52-hour work limit for chipmakers

Amid intensifying competition for chip supremacy, Korean lawmakers are pushing to lift the national cap on working hours to give chipmakers more flexibility. The ruling party's proposal, however, has sparked mixed reactions, with critics labeling it "regressive." In South Korea, home to the world's top memory chip makers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, employees are prohibited from working more than 52 hours per week -- consisting of 40 regular hours and up to 12 hours of o

Nov. 19, 2024

Samsung, LG clean up at CES 2025 Innovation Awards

Korean tech giants Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics were recognized with a slew of prizes at the CES 2025 Innovation Awards for their newest products, ahead of the world’s largest tech trade show set to be held in Las Vegas in January. In this year’s program, Samsung won 29 awards, including four best of innovation products, while LG received 24 awards with three top innovation winners. The Consumer Technology Association organizes the annual competition honoring outstanding de

Nov. 15, 2024

Samsung, SK to unveil supercomputer chips at SC24

South Korean chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix will showcase their latest chips for artificial intelligence applications and supercomputing at Supercomputing 24, the largest international conference on high-performance computing, next week. The annual event which first kicked off in 1988 and is organized by Association for Computing Machinery and the IEEE Computer Society, will take place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, from Sunday to Nov. 22. The Korean chipmakers wil

Nov. 14, 2024