SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Once Upon a Farm Raises Nearly $198 Million in IPO, Valued at Over $724 Million 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Australian Scandium Project Backed by Richard Friedland Poised to Support U.S. Critical Minerals Stockpile 
Rio Tinto Shares Hit Record High After Ending Glencore Merger Talks 
OpenAI Expands Enterprise AI Strategy With Major Hiring Push Ahead of New Business Offering 
Prudential Financial Reports Higher Q4 Profit on Strong Underwriting and Investment Gains 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Nintendo Shares Slide After Earnings Miss Raises Switch 2 Margin Concerns 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
SpaceX Pushes for Early Stock Index Inclusion Ahead of Potential Record-Breaking IPO 
TSMC Eyes 3nm Chip Production in Japan with $17 Billion Kumamoto Investment 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
South Korea revealed its plan to build a chip manufacturing complex as it aspires to become the world's largest semiconductor manufacturing hub and chip supply chain. The government announced on Thursday, May 13, that it will be helping local companies for this plan to be realized by the year 2030.
The Korea Times reported that semiconductor firms in S. Korea including SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics will bond together to make their country the leading producer of memory and system chips in the world.
The plan for the complex and how it will be achieved
It was reported that to realize this promising plan, the South Korean government led by President Moon Jae In, will do its part and provide the assistance that it can possibly extend. With this said, the administration stated that it will be giving huge tax incentives to firms that will take part in the construction of the semiconductor facilities.
For the part of the chipmakers, they have promised to invest more than ₩510 trillion or around $450 billion for the project including the research and development facility (R&D) that is hoped to be completed by the targeted year.
The massive facility will be called the "K-Semiconductor Belt" and it will rise in the western part of S. Korea that comprises Pangyo, Hwaseong, Giheung, Onyang and Pyeongtaek. This also includes the central region that links Icheon, Cheongju and Yongin. This belt will have every aspect of the chipmaking business such as the production/manufacturing, components, equipment, materials and design.
"Countries around the world are fiercely competing to reorganize their own supply chains,” President Moon said. “We are trying to make this opportunity ours by making preemptive investments that will not be shaken by external shocks, and strengthening the domestic industrial ecosystem to lead the global supply chain."
Tax breaks to boost S. Korea’s chip industry
The administration will be offering tax credits to companies and this will be between 40% and 50% percent for the investments in semiconductor technologies. For the spending on the new plants, 10% to 20% tax credits would be given.
As per Reuters, the Korean government will also allot ₩1 trillion or $883 million in loans for the country’s chip industry. Finally, the administration will increase tax breaks to six percent from the current three percent.
