SemiVoice

September 28

• [Photo] Seoul World Fireworks Festival

  ➀ The Seoul World Fireworks Festival, hosted by Hanwha, was held on September 27, 2025, in Seoul's Yeouido area;

  ➁ The event, themed 'Together in Light, Becoming One,' featured participations from South Korea, Italy, and Canada, highlighting unity through light;

  ➂ Spectacular fireworks displays illuminated the night sky, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

September 27

• ASUS and Xbox Collaborate on 'ROG Xbox Elai Series' Reservations

  ➀ ASUS and Xbox jointly launched the next-gen handheld UMPC "ROG Xbox Elai Series," offering two models (X and base) optimized for Xbox full-screen gaming and consumer preferences;

  ➁ The X model features AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, 80Wh battery (130% capacity increase), and impulse triggers for precise controls, while the base model uses AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor;

  ➂ Offline demo spaces are available at four locations in South Korea, with prices set at 1,299,000 KRW (~$1,130) for X and 799,000 KRW (~$690).

• GS Caltex Conducts Gardening Program 'Garden School' at Seoul Forest

  ➀ GS Caltex is running the 'Garden School' social contribution program from September 20 to November 15, 2025, at Seoul Forest in collaboration with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Green Trust, aiming to co-create a carbon-reduction urban garden;

  ➁ The program includes renovating the GS Caltex Forest (originally sponsored by the company) into an educational carbon-reduction garden and providing 8-week gardening training with hands-on activities for employees and citizens;

  ➂ The completed garden will open for visitors by 2026 alongside the Seoul International Garden Expo, accompanied by commemorative events to support the expo’s success.

• SK Hynix Pays KRW 265.5 Billion in Early Payments Ahead of Chuseok Holiday

  ➀ SK Hynix announced early payments of approximately KRW 265.5 billion (≈$204 million) to 506 suppliers ahead of the Chuseok holiday to strengthen financial stability and improve workforce satisfaction;

  ➁ The company has increased payment frequency to suppliers from 3 to 4 times monthly since 2020 and operates support funds totaling KRW 360 billion (≈$277 million), including low-interest and interest-free funds;

  ➂ SK Hynix emphasized its commitment to fostering trust and mutual growth with partners to enhance competitiveness in the AI era.

• Qualcomm and HUMANE Partner to Realize Hybrid AI Through Collaboration

  ➀ Qualcomm and HUMANE announced a strategic AI partnership at the Snapdragon Summit 2025, focusing on developing 'hybrid AI' that combines on-device processing with cloud connectivity;

  ➁ HUMANE will integrate its AI agent-centric OS with Qualcomm's Snapdragon technology, starting with the newly unveiled Horizon Pro AI laptop powered by the Snapdragon X Elite chipset;

  ➂ The hybrid AI approach enhances enterprise efficiency, exemplified by HUMANE's claim of reducing HR staffing needs from 11 to 1 employee through AI automation in ERP systems.

• Doosan Bobcat Conducts Volunteer Activities in 12 Countries Worldwide

  ➀ Doosan Bobcat held its global social contribution program, "Doosan Bobcat Community Week (DBCD)," with approximately 700 employees across 12 countries, including the U.S., Czech Republic, and China, focusing on environmental improvement and community welfare;

  ➁ In South Korea, over 100 employees participated in activities like biodiversity surveys at Mt. Geumto and facility maintenance at an orphanage, while overseas teams engaged in upcycling, invasive species removal, and ecological protection using company equipment;

  ➂ The initiative, highlighted by VP Scott Park, aimed to strengthen community ties and promote sustainable practices through localized volunteer efforts.

• HMM Supports Maritime Transport of International Relief Supplies for Vulnerable Groups in Laos

  ➀ HMM announced its sponsorship of maritime transport for five containers of international relief supplies (including clothing) to vulnerable groups in Laos, collaborating with NGOs Good Neighbors and Seoul Saerang-euimae. The shipment will depart on October 1 via the HMM Miracle vessel.

  ➁ HMM also partnered with Human Asia to transport tents and clothing donated by Helinox and Z Foundation to Syrian refugees in Jordan, continuing its humanitarian logistics support since 2021 amid global supply chain challenges.

  ➂ HMM's global subsidiaries conducted regional CSR activities, including food donations in Singapore/Dubai, care services in Sweden/Philippines, and participation in charity marathons in Europe and the U.S. to support causes like breast cancer and heart disease.

• Samsung Display Partners with NCsoft for OLED Marketing at Tokyo Game Show

  ➀ Samsung Display collaborates with NCsoft to showcase OLED technology at Tokyo Game Show;

  ➁ Demonstrates OLED's 0.2ms response time, 15x faster than LCD, for smooth gaming on HP laptops and monitors;

  ➂ Aims to highlight OLED's advantages in enhancing gaming immersion and display performance.

• LG Chem Launches Full-Scale 'Technology Protection Voucher Support Program' for Suppliers

  ➀ LG Chem collaborates with South Korea's Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Shared Growth Committee to implement a program preventing technology leaks and enhancing data security for suppliers;

  ➀ The initiative provides integrated security solutions and anti-leak systems for suppliers like Wooree E&M and Dongyang Chemical Machinery;

  ➂ The program aims to strengthen protection for both partners' proprietary data and shared confidential information, fostering sustainable growth.

• POSCO Group and Ørsted Sign MOU for 1.4GW Incheon Offshore Wind Project

  ➀ POSCO Group and Ørsted signed an MOU to jointly develop South Korea's largest 1.4GW offshore wind project in Incheon, aiming to strengthen renewable energy competitiveness and accelerate decarbonization;

  ➁ The collaboration will involve POSCO's expertise in steel supply for infrastructure and Ørsted's global leadership in offshore wind, with plans to form a working group to finalize project details;

  ➂ The project aligns with POSCO's decarbonization roadmap, which includes advancing hydrogen-based steelmaking and transitioning to low-carbon energy sources like LNG and hydrogen.

September 26

• [Photo] Lee Seung-woo, Managing Director of Eugene Investment & Securities, Presents 'Advanced Packaging Market Analysis'

  ➀ The Korean Microelectronics and Packaging Society (KMEPS) hosted a Semiconductor Packaging Development Policy Forum in Seoul;

  ➁ Lee Seung-woo, Managing Director of Eugene Investment & Securities, delivered a keynote speech analyzing trends in the advanced packaging market;

  ➂ The forum focused on policy discussions and industry collaboration to enhance semiconductor packaging technologies.

• [Photo] Semiconductor Packaging Development Policy Forum Held

  ➀ The Korea Microelectronics and Packaging Society (KMEPS) hosted a policy forum on semiconductor packaging technology advancement in Seoul, attended by industry, academic, and government representatives;

  ➁ Discussions focused on next-generation packaging technologies like 3D IC and heterogeneous integration for enhancing semiconductor competitiveness;

  ➂ Participants included researchers from organizations such as Amkor Technology Korea, DGIST, and Sungkyunkwan University to align policies with industry needs.

• [Photo] Trends in Semiconductor Packaging Strategies

  ➀ The Korea Microelectronics and Packaging Society (KMEPS) hosted a Semiconductor Packaging Policy Forum in Seoul, discussing recent strategic trends;

  ➁ Professor Kwon Seok-joon from Sungkyunkwan University delivered a keynote on policy and strategic directions for semiconductor packaging;

  ➂ The forum aimed to address advancements and collaborative efforts in packaging technologies critical for next-generation semiconductor development.

• Qualcomm Unveils Next-Gen Chipset with Personalized AI Capabilities

  ➀ Qualcomm launched the Snapdragon 8 Elite 5th Gen, improving CPU by 20%, GPU by 23%, and NPU by 37%, emphasizing on-device AI agents for personalized tasks;

  ➁ Samsung plans to integrate the chip into Galaxy S26 (2026) and expand Galaxy AI to PCs, wearables, and XR devices, targeting 400M devices by late 2025;

  ➂ Qualcomm also unveiled the Snapdragon X2 Elite PC processor with 2.3x GPU improvement and 80 TOPS NPU performance, aiming to redefine smart device ecosystems.

• [Photo] Nano Integrated Technology Institute's Advanced Packaging Infrastructure

  ➀ The Korea Microelectronics and Packaging Society (KMEPS) hosted a semiconductor packaging development policy forum in Seoul's Gangnam-gu SC Convention Center on September 25;

  ➁ Oh Jae-seop, Director of the Nano Integrated Technology Institute, presented the current status and plans for building advanced packaging infrastructure;

  ➂ The event highlighted Korea's efforts to strengthen semiconductor packaging capabilities amid global technological competition.

• [Photo] KMEPS Semiconductor Packaging Development Policy Forum

  ➀ The Korean Microelectronics and Packaging Society (KMEPS) hosted the Semiconductor Packaging Development Policy Forum on September 25 at the SC Convention Center in Seoul;

  ➁ Professor Kwon Seok-joon from Sungkyunkwan University delivered a presentation titled 'Semiconductor Packaging Policies and Strategic Trends';

  ➂ The event focused on discussing advancements and policy directions for semiconductor packaging technologies, including 3D IC and chiplet innovations.

• Samsung Electronics President Choi Won-joon: 'Expanding AI Ecosystem through Collaboration with Qualcomm'

  ➀ Samsung Electronics announced strengthened collaboration with Qualcomm to expand AI ecosystems, integrating Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipsets across Galaxy devices;

  ➁ Plans to deploy AI on over 400 million devices by late 2025, focusing on smartphones, PCs, wearables, and XR, with Galaxy S26 expected to adopt Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen5 AP;

  ➂ Emphasized "AI democratization" and deeper partnerships to enhance contextual AI agents for enriched user experiences.

• [Photo] Semiconductor Packaging Development Policy Forum

  ➀ The Korea Microelectronics and Packaging Society (KMEPS) hosted a policy forum in Seoul on September 25, 2025, attended by industry leaders, government officials, and academics;

  ➁ The event focused on strategies and policies to advance semiconductor packaging technologies, including 3D IC and chiplets;

  ➂ Emphasized collaborative efforts between academia, industry, and government to strengthen South Korea's competitiveness in the global semiconductor sector.

• [Photo] What Projects Exist for Packaging Workforce Training?

  ➀ The Korean Microelectronics and Packaging Society (KMEPS) hosted a policy forum on semiconductor packaging development on September 25, 2025, in Seoul;

  ➁ Professor Kim Seong-dong from Seoul National University of Science and Technology presented on the current status of packaging workforce training initiatives;

  ➂ The event highlighted efforts to address industry demands by fostering talent in advanced semiconductor packaging technologies.

• Advantech Successfully Concludes Industrial Tablet Distribution Channel Briefing... Begins Final Partner Selection Process

  ➀ Advantech held an offline briefing session in Seoul to recruit distribution partners for its industrial tablets, attracting multiple companies interested in collaboration;

  ➀ The event showcased Advantech's business vision, technical strengths, and demo products while detailing the partner qualification review process;

  ➂ Selected partners will officially distribute industrial tablets from 2026, aiming to strengthen Advantech’s leadership in the industrial IoT market.

September 25

• S-Oil Hosts 'Sharing Love Songpyeon' Event for Chuseok

  ➀ S-Oil collaborated with Ma Po Comprehensive Social Welfare Center to distribute 500 sets of festive gifts and Songpyeon (Korean rice cakes) worth 60 million KRW (approximately $43,800) to low-income families near its Seoul headquarters during the Chuseok holiday;

  ➁ The event involved 100 executives, employees, Saudi international students, and childcare center children, fostering community engagement;

  ➂ An annual tradition since 2007, the initiative reflects S-Oil's commitment to supporting marginalized groups during traditional holidays.

• Qualcomm CMO: Snapdragon Brand Value Reaches $65 Billion

  ➀ Qualcomm's Snapdragon brand was valued at $65 billion (approximately 90.64 trillion KRW) in Kantar's 'Most Valuable Brands' ranking, marking its first inclusion;

  ➁ Snapdragon, initially launched in 2007 as a mobile AP, has expanded into PCs and automotive sectors, with 84% of premium laptop users and 95% of budget device users favoring its AI and battery-efficient performance;

  ➂ The Snapdragon Summit 2025 in Maui showcased partnerships with Samsung (e.g., Galaxy Z Fold 7), HP, BMW, and Google, and included a keynote by CEO Cristiano Amon.

• LX International Expands Biodiversity Conservation Activities at Jungnangcheon

  ➀ LX International mobilized 40 employees, including its volunteer group (LEXT), to conduct biodiversity conservation activities along Seoul's Jungnangcheon stream, focusing on creating habitats for endangered otters (Natural Monument No. 330) and installing surveillance cameras to monitor wildlife;

  ➁ They removed invasive plant species like bur cucumber and Japanese hop, which disrupt local ecosystems, and confirmed the presence of three otters and other species through ongoing monitoring since 2024;

  ➂ The company plans to continue ecosystem restoration efforts for three years, document results in annual sustainability reports, and expand similar initiatives to overseas operations to build a sustainable environment for future generations.

• Lenovo Korea Launches 'AI Desktop' IdeaCenter

  ➀ Lenovo Korea released the all-in-one AI desktop 'IdeaCenter AIO 27AKP10' featuring AMD Ryzen 200-series processors and Ryzen AI technology, with up to 32GB DDR5 memory and 1TB PCIe SSD;

  ➁ The 27-inch FHD IPS display (100Hz refresh rate, 99% sRGB) and Harman stereo speakers enhance multimedia performance, while Lenovo Smart Meeting and noise-canceling tools optimize video conferencing;

  ➂ Priced from 890,000 KRW (~$656), it includes a 1-year on-site repair service for customer convenience.

• LG Launches World's First 6K Thunderbolt 5 Professional Monitor

  ➀ LG introduced the 32-inch UltraFine Evo 6K (model 32U990AS), the world's first professional monitor to simultaneously support 6K (6144×3456) resolution and Thunderbolt 5, targeting photo/video editors, designers, and CAD engineers;

  ➁ The monitor features 224 PPI density (2.56× more pixels than 4K UHD), 98% DCI-P3 and 99.5% Adobe RGB color accuracy, VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification, and Thunderbolt 5's 120Gbps bandwidth for high-speed data transfers and 4K rendering;

  ➂ Priced at 3 million KRW (~$2,307.70 USD), availability begins in South Korea this month, followed by global markets.

• LG Electronics and KIPO Open Electronic Product Experience Classroom for Children and Adolescents with Disabilities

  ➀ LG Electronics collaborated with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) to host an educational workshop for 30 children and adolescents with developmental disabilities at Daniel School in Seoul, focusing on electronic product accessibility and invention;

  ➁ The program, part of a March 2025 agreement to improve appliance accessibility, combined LG's 'Home Appliance One-Day Class' with KIPO's invention experience sessions, covering topics like smart sensor technology and safe appliance use;

  ➂ LG also held an idea contest via KIPO's platform, receiving 250 submissions, and selected four award-winning concepts for its 'LG Comfort Kit' to enhance product usability across diverse needs, with plans to expand inclusive educational initiatives.

• Micron Achieves Record Q4 and Annual Performance with Surging HBM Demand

  ❶ Micron reported its highest-ever quarterly revenue of $11.315 billion (~KRW 15.79 trillion) in Q4 FY2025 and annual revenue of $37.378 billion, driven by surging HBM demand for AI semiconductors;

  ❷ Operating profit surged 127% YoY to $3.955 billion (~KRW 5.519 trillion), while net income jumped 158% YoY to $3.469 billion (~KRW 4.841 trillion), with HBM division revenue rising 214% YoY to $4.54 billion;

  ❸ Micron forecasts Q1 FY2026 revenue of $12.5 billion (±$300 million), though its Core Data Center segment (serving Dell, HPE) declined 23% YoY to $1.577 billion.

• Samsung Subsidiary Harman Completes Acquisition of U.S. Masimo's Audio Division

  ➀ Harman International, a Samsung subsidiary, has finalized the $350 million (approximately 500 billion KRW) acquisition of Masimo's audio division, Sound United, acquiring brands like Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, and Marantz;

  ➀ Sound United will operate independently under Harman's Lifestyle division while preserving brand identities, bolstering Harman's 60% market share in portable audio;

  ➂ This marks Samsung's largest M&A since acquiring Harman in 2017 for $8 billion, aiming to solidify Harman's leadership in the consumer audio market, projected to grow to $70 billion by 2029.

• Samsung Heavy Industries Obtains Basic Certification for Ammonia-Based Hydrogen Fuel Cell Propulsion Oil Tanker

  ➀ Samsung Heavy Industries received basic design certification from Bureau Veritas (BV) for an ammonia-based hydrogen fuel cell propulsion oil tanker, marking a milestone in eco-friendly maritime technology;

  ➁ The system utilizes ammonia cracking to produce hydrogen, paired with durable polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) for rapid startup and distributed deck/engine room layouts to enhance safety and reduce noise;

  ➂ Collaborating with MISC and BV for operational data and economic evaluations, Samsung aims to advance commercialization, leveraging domestic suppliers like Panasia and Vincotte for key components.

• Hyosung Heavy Industries Invests 100 Billion KRW to Build New Ultra-High Voltage Circuit Breaker Production Factory

  ➀ Hyosung Heavy Industries announced a 100 billion KRW (~$76.9 million) investment to construct a new ultra-high voltage circuit breaker factory in Changwon, South Korea, aiming to expand production capacity by 1.5× by 2026 to meet global export demand;

  ➁ The initiative addresses surging power infrastructure needs driven by AI, data centers, and aging grids, with the global circuit breaker market projected to grow from $22.47 billion (2024) to $42.85 billion by 2032;

  ➂ The company is also expanding in India's high-growth market and diversifying into total solutions (e.g., STATCOM, HVDC) to support renewable energy transitions and infrastructure modernization.