SemiVoice

July 12

• Alseimi Advances to SEMI's 'Sustainable Semiconductor Startup' Semifinals

  ➀ Alseimi, a South Korean startup incubated by SK Hynix, became the sole Korean company to reach the semifinals of SEMI's global 'Sustainable Semiconductor Startup (S3)' program, which evaluates innovations in energy efficiency and eco-friendly materials for the semiconductor industry;

  ➁ The company developed AI-powered software to streamline semiconductor design and introduced a simulation solution for process optimization, reducing manufacturing time and costs;

  ➂ The competitive program, supported by Applied Materials, will announce 10-12 finalists at SEMICON West 2025, offering mentorship and investment opportunities for sustainable semiconductor technologies.

July 11

• SK Magic Changes Company Name to 'SK Intellix'... Rebranding Vision with AI Wellness Business

  ➀ SK Magic rebrands to 'SK Intellix', emphasizing AI-driven wellness platform innovation;

  ➁ The new name combines 'Intelligent' and 'X', reflecting commitments to AI-powered open ecosystems and personalized wellness experiences;

  ➂ Core brands like SK Magic (health appliances) and NAMUX (wellness robotics) will focus on category expansion and ecological integration under the restructured vision.

• HD Hyundai Construction Machinery Collaborates with Vietnamese University to Accelerate Technical Talent Training

  ➀ HD Hyundai Construction Machinery signed an MOU with Vietnam’s CCT1 college to cultivate professionals in eco-friendly and smart construction machinery, including donating a 22-ton excavator for training;

  ➁ The 5-year partnership, under KOICA’s IBS-ESG Initiative, will support curriculum development, international skills competitions, job fairs, and community education, aiming to train over 500 individuals;

  ➂ With Vietnam’s construction machinery market projected to reach 7,900 units by 2029, HD Hyundai plans to expand similar projects in India, Brazil, and Indonesia to strengthen global competitiveness.

• Lotte Chemical Becomes First in Domestic Petrochemical Industry to Join ‘Environmental Label Certification Standard Compliant Raw Material Supply Chain’

  ➀ Lotte Chemical partnered with the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute to participate in the Environmental Label Certification Standard Compliant Raw Material Supply Chain, becoming the first domestic petrochemical company to do so;

  ➁ The company secured approval for 39 plastic materials (e.g., PE, PP, PET) as compliant raw materials, streamlining clients’ certification processes by exempting MSDS submissions;

  ➂ This initiative reduces administrative burdens for clients, accelerates eco-friendly product transitions, and strengthens collaborative efforts to build a sustainable ecosystem.

• Inter-Ministerial Joint 'RE100 Industrial Complex Promotion TF' Launched

  ➀ The South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced the establishment of a cross-ministerial task force (TF) to promote RE100 Industrial Complexes, aiming to support companies in achieving renewable energy goals;

  ➁ The TF, led by the First Vice Minister of Industry, will coordinate with multiple ministries to develop policies and infrastructure by year-end, including drafting special legislation to attract businesses;

  ➂ The initiative seeks to link corporate competitiveness with regional renewable energy resources, fostering economic revitalization through government-wide collaboration.

• S+Global Wins Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy's Commendation at 2025 Trade Security Day

  ➀ S+Global received the 2025 Trade Security Day commendation from South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for establishing a proactive risk management model in strategic goods export controls, including strict compliance with U.S. BIS regulations and Korean trade laws;

  ➁ The company developed patented systems like its CRM-powered transaction-blocking automation and SemiMarket platform abuse detection tools, reinforcing global supply chain integrity;

  ➂ A notable case involved preemptively canceling semiconductor equipment exports to a suspected Russian end-user, showcasing autonomous compliance leadership.

• SuperSolution Unveils Giga Computing's Liquid and Air-Cooled GIGABYTE AI Servers with NVIDIA HGX B200 Platform

  ➀ SuperSolution announced four new GIGABYTE servers based on NVIDIA's HGX B200 platform, featuring liquid-cooled G4L3 and air-cooled G894 series, optimized for AI workloads with enhanced thermal efficiency;

  ➁ The servers support Intel® Xeon®6 series CPUs and integrate with GIGABYTE’s GIGAPOD rack-scale AI supercomputing solution, delivering scalable performance for generative AI and large language models;

  ➂ These systems reduce power and cooling costs while providing flexibility for diverse AI, HPC, and cloud applications, positioning SuperSolution as a leader in AI infrastructure deployment.

July 9

• GSIL and Gwangjang Law Firm Sign MOU on EU CSDDD and Industrial Safety Compliance

  ➀ GSIL, a smart safety management company, signed an MOU with Gwangjang Law Firm to integrate legal compliance expertise with smart safety technologies for EU CSDDD and industrial accident prevention;

  ➁ The partnership aims to launch a 'smart safety history management system' by late 2025, centralizing worker risk exposure, equipment anomalies, and safety inspections digitally to address domestic and EU regulations;

  ➂ Both parties emphasized the necessity of evolving safety compliance systems amid digitalization trends, positioning their collaboration as a model for legal-technical integration in ESG and safety governance.

• S-Oil and G2 Power Collaborate to Develop Immersion-Cooled ESS and Business Cooperation

  ➀ S-OIL and G2 Power signed an MOU to jointly develop and commercialize immersion-cooled ESS using S-OIL's 'e-Cooling Solution' and AI-based control systems;

  ➁ The new ESS reduces fire/explosion risks, cuts operational energy by 30%, improves charge/discharge efficiency by 10%, and prevents thermal imbalances in battery modules;

  ➂ The companies plan to expand collaboration into data center cooling systems, targeting leadership in high-growth thermal management markets.

• [ET Talk] Cooling Blast Furnace: Survival Strategy for K-Steel

  ① South Korea's steel industry faces an existential crisis due to shrinking domestic demand from prolonged construction stagnation and a surge in cheap Chinese steel imports; ② U.S. tariff policies (50% on steel) threaten export competitiveness, risking significant market share losses in key markets; ③ Industry stakeholders call for urgent measures including trade barriers against dumping, energy cost subsidies for carbon-neutral electric furnace transitions, and policies to preserve the steel ecosystem as a national manufacturing backbone.

• LG Electronics Aims for Compressed Growth Twice as Fast as the Market in HVAC

  ➀ LG Electronics targets achieving 20 trillion KRW (approx. $152 billion) in HVAC business by 2030, focusing on AI data center cooling solutions and liquid cooling technology commercialization by year-end;

  ➁ Plans to triple orders for cooling solutions and supply liquid-cooled solutions to NVIDIA (currently under certification), with expanded chiller sales to hit 1 trillion KRW (approx. $7.6 billion) within two years;

  ➂ Strengthens environmental compliance with low-GWP refrigerants (R32) and expands R&D through localized production and strategic M&A to boost non-hardware revenue to 20%.

• GS Caltex Introduces In-House Generative AI Integrated Platform 'AIU'

  ➀ GS Caltex launched 'AIU,' an internal generative AI platform, to enhance digital transformation and enable secure AI integration with company data;

  ➁ The platform features no-code/low-code tools for creating AI agents and allows employees to share custom solutions across teams;

  ➂ The initiative aims to streamline workflows and foster an AI-driven corporate culture focused on high-value tasks.

• Samsung Electronics Launches 2025 Galaxy Book5 and Samsung Desktop in Korea with Galaxy AI Integration

  ➀ Samsung Electronics unveiled three new 2025 PC products in Korea: the Galaxy Book5, Samsung Desktop (Tower/Slim), all featuring Intel Core Ultra 7/5 processors for enhanced AI performance and productivity;

  ➁ The devices support Galaxy AI features like AI Select (screen-based search) and Photo Remaster (image upscaling), along with Copilot hotkeys, anti-glare displays, extended battery life (19 hours), and lightweight designs (Galaxy Book5: 1.55kg);

  ➂ Prices start at ₩1.37 million (~$990) for Galaxy Book5, ₩1.23 million (~$888) for the Slim Desktop, and ₩1.24 million (~$895) for the Tower model, with enhanced cross-device connectivity for Galaxy ecosystems.

• Murata Commercializes High-Frequency Filter Using XBAR Technology... Enables High Attenuation and Low-Loss Signal Detection in Frequency Bands Above 3GHz

  ➀ Murata developed a high-frequency filter using XBAR technology acquired from Resonant Inc. in 2022, enabling high attenuation and low-loss signal detection in frequencies above 3GHz for 5G, 6G, and Wi-Fi 6E/7 applications;

  ➁ The filter addresses limitations of traditional LTCC/BAW filters by suppressing noise from unwanted signals in high-frequency bands, supporting up to 10GHz for future 6G systems;

  ➂ Combining XBAR with SAW expertise enhances cost competitiveness and quality, advancing high-speed, high-capacity communication technology.

• DaeWon C&T Launches Micron Crucial T710 Gen5 NVMe SSD

  ➀ DaeWon C&T officially introduced Micron's Crucial T710 Gen5 NVMe SSD in South Korea, featuring PCIe 5.0 and Silicon Motion SM2508 controller, achieving sequential read/write speeds up to 14,900MB/s and 13,800MB/s, targeting AI applications and high-load tasks;

  ➁ Enhanced power efficiency (67% improvement) and thermal management via copper-coated labels and optional heatsinks ensure stability across laptops, desktops, and workstations, with durability up to 2,400TBW for 4TB models;

  ➂ Equipped with Microsoft DirectStorage, encryption, and backward compatibility with PCIe 3.0/4.0, the SSD supports gamers, creators, and AI researchers, backed by a 5-year premium warranty from DaeWon C&T.

• Wavice Secures Contract for RF Amplification Modules for Indian Defense Anti-Drone Jammers

  ➀ Wavice signed a contract with an Indian defense company to supply GaN-based RF amplification modules for anti-drone jammers, utilizing GaN RF semiconductor chips as core components;

  ➁ The jammers will be delivered to the Indian Ministry of Defense for deployment at the India-Pakistan border, with the customer involved in supporting DRDO and ISRO's satellite navigation technology;

  ➂ Wavice aims to commercialize X-band (8-12GHz) process technology for advanced weapon systems and expand partnerships in next-gen defense applications like multi-functional radars and electronic warfare systems.

• KTR's Electrical and Electronic Test Reports Recognized by Singapore... Export Companies Save Time and Costs

  ➀ KTR signed an agreement with SGS Singapore to allow its test reports to be used for Singapore's mandatory Safety Mark certification for electrical/electronic products;

  ➁ Korean exporters can now streamline certification processes through KTR, reducing time, costs, and language barriers;

  ➂ The collaboration will expand technical regulatory cooperation, including KC certification for Singaporean products and EV charger standards adaptation.

July 8

• GS Caltex Selected as No.1 in Gas Station Category of National Customer Satisfaction Index for 17th Consecutive Year

  ➀ GS Caltex won the No.1 position in the gas station category of the National Customer Satisfaction Index (NCSI) for the 17th consecutive year, recognized for its real-time customer feedback system via the Energy Plus app;

  ➁ Introduced innovative services including 'Instant Refuel' (pre-registered payment/refueling), CarPlay/Android Auto integration, and shake-to-pay 'Shake & Pay' features to enhance user convenience;

  ➂ Plans to launch an all-in-one self-service payment terminal in late 2024 and continues to expand mobile payment options (e.g., Apple Pay) for seamless transactions.

• SK Chemicals Publishes '2024 Sustainability Management Report'

  ➀ SK Chemicals released its 2024 Sustainability Report, aligning with global ESG standards (ISSB S2, ESRS, TNFD) and prioritizing climate change and resource circularity as key initiatives;

  ➁ Achievements include 97% waste recycling at Ulsan plant, ZWTL Gold certification, emissions management, and collaborations with Hyundai/Kia and government agencies;

  ➂ Committed to 90% sustainable materials in products and net-zero Scope 1/2 emissions by 2040, emphasizing data-driven ESG governance.

• SK Innovation Launches Mangrove Forest Restoration Project in Vietnam

  ➀ SK Innovation signed an MOU with Vietnam's Tra Vinh Province and local social enterprise MangLuv to restore 300 hectares of mangrove forests by 2030, equivalent to 420 soccer fields, while involving local communities for economic revitalization;

  ➁ Since 2018, the company has planted 910,000 mangroves across 236 hectares in Southeast Asia and Fiji, funded by a voluntary 1% salary contribution program (approx. 20 billion KRW / ~$15.6 million USD) from employees;

  ➂ Recognized for biodiversity efforts, SK Innovation received Vietnam’s 2019 Environment Minister Commendation and 2021 Tra Vinh Provincial Merit Award, emphasizing ecological and social value creation.

• TEL Korea Conducts '4th Dream-Up Semiconductor Camp' for Elementary Students

  ➀ TEL Korea held its 4th Dream-Up Semiconductor Camp at Dankook University, offering 40 elementary students hands-on semiconductor process experiences and career exploration opportunities;

  ➀ TEL Korea employees served as instructors, delivering tailored lectures on semiconductor fundamentals and manufacturing processes for young learners;

  ➂ The event aligns with TEL's CSR initiative 'TEL FOR GOOD,' focusing on STEM education and fostering future semiconductor talent.

• Samsung Heavy Industries Signs Preliminary Agreement Worth 869.4 Billion KRW for Marine Production Facilities

  ➀ Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) signed a preliminary agreement valued at 869.4 billion KRW (approximately $626 million) for marine production facility preparations, accounting for 8.8% of its 2024 revenue;

  ➁ SHI secured $3.3 billion in orders in 2025, including 18 vessels and marine equipment contracts, achieving 34% of its annual target of $9.8 billion;

  ➂ Citing heightened energy security concerns post-Russia-Ukraine war and U.S. energy policy shifts, SHI anticipates steady marine equipment demand and plans to secure 1-2 major projects annually.

• KETI Achieves Anode-Free All-Solid-State Battery Technology

  ➀ KETI developed a sulfide-based solid electrolyte and successfully implemented an anode-free all-solid-state battery, achieving higher energy density and reduced fire risks;

  ➁ The technology suppresses dendrite growth using silver-doped lithium argyrodite, addressing lifespan and safety challenges;

  ➂ The synthesis process is compatible with existing mass production methods, enhancing commercialization potential for next-generation batteries.

• SFA supplies logistics equipment for domestic client's HBM production line

  ➀ SFA announced it will supply logistics systems for a domestic semiconductor manufacturer's HBM production line, expanding its wafer transport equipment (OHT) solutions;

  ➁ The company highlighted its core technologies: optimized route selection to improve wafer transport efficiency and predictive maintenance (PdM) solutions for uninterrupted operations;

  ➂ SFA is developing non-contact 3D wiring equipment and inspection tools to strengthen its HBM business portfolio.

July 7

• Samsung Heavy Industries Establishes Win-Win Growth Model with Small and Mid-sized Shipbuilders

  ➀ Samsung Heavy Industries signed an MOU with HSG Sungdong Shipbuilding and Geonhwa to build a cooperative growth model focused on ship pipeline construction and large ship block supply;

  ➁ The collaboration will delegate oil tanker pipeline construction to HSG Sungdong and LNG carrier block production to Geonhwa, enhancing SMEs' technical capabilities while improving Samsung's process efficiency;

  ➂ The initiative aims to strengthen long-term partnerships, expand regional employment, and boost the local economy in Gyeongnam.

• Samsung Electronics OLED TVs Receive Rave Reviews from Global Media

  ➀ Samsung Electronics' OLED TVs, including the S95F and S90F models, were acclaimed by global media outlets like T3 and TechRadar for their exceptional brightness, color accuracy, and glare-reducing Glare Free 2.0 technology;

  ➁ The S95F was named 'Best TV of the Year' and 'Best Gaming TV' by T3, praised for delivering immersive gaming and cinematic experiences, while the S90F earned 'Recommended' status for its true black performance in dark scenes;

  ➂ According to Omdia, Samsung dominated the North American OLED TV market in Q1 2025, securing 50.3% revenue share and 45.2% unit share.

• 10% Rebate on Top-Tier Appliances... Domestic Market to See KRW 2.6 Trillion Boost Through 'Best Appliance Program'

  ➀ South Korea's 'Best Appliance Program' rebate initiative resumed after four years, aiming to stimulate the domestic appliance market with an expected KRW 2.6 trillion (~$2.2 billion USD) sales impact;

  ➁ The government will refund up to KRW 300,000 (~$260 USD) per person for purchasing 11 energy-efficient appliances (1st-tier efficiency rating) including TVs, refrigerators, and air purifiers, with a reduced budget of KRW 267.1 billion (~$229 million USD);

  ➂ Samsung and LG launched aggressive marketing campaigns, offering additional discounts and membership points alongside the government rebate, positioning premium 1st-tier appliances at competitive price points comparable to 2nd-tier products.

• EcoPro BM Establishes Liaison Office in Germany to Strengthen European Market Expansion

  ➀ EcoPro BM established its first European liaison office in Munich, Germany, to enhance communication with local clients and bridge operations between its headquarters and European customers;

  ➁ The office supports the company's strategy to diversify its European customer base, with current staff including European employees;

  ➂ It will collaborate with EcoPro BM's upcoming cathode material plant in Hungary (annual capacity: 54,000 tons, operational by Q1 2026) to strengthen localization efforts and expand its European market presence.

• US Reverses Regulations on 'Forever Chemicals' PFAS... Semiconductor Industry Relieved

  ➀ The Trump administration eases PFAS regulations to allow delayed implementation (2031) and reduces the number of restricted PFAS types, alleviating pressure on semiconductor manufacturers requiring these chemicals;

  ➁ Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which are building PFAS-free supply chains, gain time to develop alternatives, as global material firms face technical hurdles in matching performance;

  ➂ The US aims to strengthen semiconductor competitiveness against Europe and attract investments, benefiting domestic fabs and ongoing projects by Samsung and SK Hynix.

• S-OIL Operates 'Gudoil Cafe' Year-Round to Cool Down Local Residents

  ➀ S-OIL operates a free vending machine named 'Gudoil Cafe' year-round in front of its Seoul headquarters, offering seasonal beverages like cold water in summer and warm teas in winter;

  ➀ Since 2011, it has served as a rest area for locals, students, delivery drivers, and bus drivers;

  ➂ A donation box beside the vending machine collects voluntary contributions, funding welfare programs for low-income families with infants in the Mapo district.