National Income at $40,000, Semiconductor Alliance

According to the second-quarter national income data released by the Bank of Korea, nominal GNI (Gross National Income) increased by 26.4% year-on-year. This is analyzed as a result of exchange rate effects and strong semiconductor exports.

Kwon Soon-woo, Head of the Reporting Team, highlighted the scale of this growth, stating, "National income increased by 26.4% compared to the previous year."

If this trend of increasing national income continues, per capita national income is expected to exceed $40,000 for the first time in history this year.

The situation in the Middle East is currently very unstable. News has been reported of an oil tanker being attacked near Khark, and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard seizing a state-of-the-art unmanned submarine in the Strait of Hormuz.

These events, showing signs of escalating conflict such as the attack on Aramco facilities near the Red Sea, are significantly driving up oil prices. Rising international oil prices are negatively impacting the global economy, leading to a downturn in the U.S. stock market.

Furthermore, it is taking broad steps to secure next-generation semiconductor technology, including opening an advanced package lab in Yokohama, Japan.

This ASML consortium is not exclusive to Samsung Electronics; TSMC and Intel are also participating. This can be seen as an alliance involving major global companies leading advanced foundry processes.

Kwon Soon-woo, Head of the Reporting Team, commented, "Rather than seeing this as solely Samsung Electronics' initiative, it's better to view it as a broader Western alliance," interpreting it as an intention to widen the technology gap with China through strengthened semiconductor alliances across Western countries.

A photomask is a core component in semiconductor manufacturing that forms circuit patterns by exposing light. Traditional 6-inch photomasks required multiple steps of drawing patterns on a wafer and then 'stitching' them together, which was time-consuming and costly.

However, using a 12-inch large photomask allows for patterning a wider area at once, significantly improving process efficiency. This is expected to shorten semiconductor production time and reduce costs.

Samsung Electronics has been at the forefront of advanced technology challenges, being the first in the world to introduce 7-nanometer process and Gate-All-Around (GAA) process in the past. These proactive investments are strategies to narrow the gap in production yield and market share with TSMC and secure market leadership.

Kwon Soon-woo, Head of the Reporting Team, referred to Samsung Electronics' past examples, stating, "It was always like that. Samsung Electronics was the first in the world to use the equipment, it was the first to enter the 7-nanometer process, and it was also Samsung Electronics that used the Gate-All-Around process." He explained that the current competition is focused on achieving optimization in each company's area and further widening the technology gap with China.

This is a strategy to build an independent AI model based on memory semiconductor technology and strengthen technological competitiveness through cooperation with Mistral AI, which possesses relatively advanced technology in Europe.

Complex customs procedures were required to transport chemical substances across national borders, but with the local R&D center, direct testing is now possible, shortening the testing period that previously took about three months.

Kwon Soon-woo, Head of the Reporting Team, emphasized the importance of local cooperation in Japan, stating, "Japanese SooBujang companies and Samsung work together a lot. The R&D center built in Yokohama is currently more important for cooperation with Japanese SooBujang." Through this, Samsung Electronics plans to respond quickly to the next-generation semiconductor roadmap and accelerate technological innovation.

Kwon Soon-woo, Head of the Reporting Team, commented, "If autonomous driving works well in internal combustion engines, that market is not accessible to Nvidia or Tesla, after all. So, I thought this part had some significance." He analyzed that this could become a new market that provides practical driver convenience in the pre-full autonomous driving (robotaxi) stage.

Especially when hybrid technology is combined with autonomous driving features, expectations are high that it can differentiate itself from the electric vehicle market and evolve into an attractive project.

The driving assistance feature of the recently released Carnival is evaluated to have significantly improved recognition levels compared to past models. Maintaining distance from the car ahead and responding to lane merging are much smoother, contributing to reduced driving fatigue.

Kwon Soon-woo, Head of the Reporting Team, commented, "It's much better than other cars that had features to maintain distance from the car ahead. So, I found it recognized things very smoothly," giving a positive evaluation based on actual user experience.

Currently, discussions are underway for a $22 billion LNG project and the acquisition of Westinghouse shares, with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy maintaining its stance that the amount cannot exceed $22 billion. There are criticisms that nuclear power projects carry high risks, so investment should be approached cautiously.

Researcher Kim Seung-jun advised, "The beneficiaries could diverge depending on who participates in 'C.' For nuclear power, it's not too late to buy when the project owner, who will bear the risks, clearly emerges," recommending purchasing when the project owner is clearly identified.

The visit to France and the issue of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz are closely related. The South Korean government prefers cooperation through international partnerships rather than unilaterally deploying troops to the Strait of Hormuz.

Kwon Soon-woo, Head of the Reporting Team, explained, "We aren't going there alone to shoot. Ultimately, we will go to the rear, but it's best to go in a state of international cooperation, which is why we were interested in what might come out of these discussions." He added that French President Macron also expressed willingness for peaceful resolution and multinational mission cooperation.

This is interpreted as reflecting Korea's subtle stance of acting within multinational agreements, such as with France and the UK, rather than solely following US demands.

Kwon Soon-woo, Head of the Reporting Team, quoted the diplomatic message following the summit, saying, "The Republic of Korea and France will continue close cooperation to promptly restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and stability of global supply chains."

The deployment of troops must go through a parliamentary approval process in accordance with the constitution and laws. Deploying troops without public knowledge could be seen as abandoning diplomatic leverage.

Kwon Soon-woo, Head of the Reporting Team, explained, "To do that, everything must go through the National Assembly. So, a public debate process will certainly heat up before any deployment." He emphasized that parliamentary opposition could even be used as a powerful lever in diplomatic negotiations.

Therefore, a thorough public debate process is essential before deciding on troop deployment, and discussions are expected to proceed in a direction that maximizes national interests.

One set includes 18 pieces and is priced at 37,900 won.

The presenters commented, "The crispy bulgogi tastes exactly like it's grilled on a charcoal grill. It's pork with a perfect blend of vegetables that creates a delicious flavor." They described its ultra-simple cooking method, which only requires pan-frying.

These sneakers feature the brand's distinctive design element, stitching, and come in a variety of lineups, from traditional designs to black sneakers.

The presenters commented, "At first glance, I instantly want them. They go well with jeans, right? Usually, these types of sneakers don't have good cushioning; they're stiff, but these are soft and plush." They praised the sneakers for their excellent cushioning, which provides good comfort despite being athletic shoes.