Korea Tech Daily — 2026-04-25
SK Hynix posted a record-shattering Q1 2026 operating profit of $25.4 billion — up fivefold year-on-year and eclipsing Nvidia and TSMC's operating margins — as AI memory demand overwhelms manufacturing capacity. Meanwhile, a KAIST-founded AI startup secured $76 million in backing from Nvidia's venture arm in what marks NVentures' first-ever Korean startup investment, and South Korea's government selected 13 new institutions to strengthen its public research-to-market startup pipeline.
Korea Tech Daily — 2026-04-25
Top Story
SK Hynix delivered a stunning Q1 2026 performance: operating profit reached ₩37.61 trillion (~$25.42 billion), nearly doubling its previous record, with an operating margin that broke above 70% — higher than both Nvidia and TSMC. The company forecast that AI chip demand will continue to exceed manufacturing capacity, allaying fears of a slowdown in Big Tech AI spending. The result came on the heels of the company's announcement of a ₩19 trillion ($12.85 billion) investment in a new South Korean advanced packaging plant to meet surging HBM demand, with construction already underway.
Samsung · SK Hynix · LG
SK Hynix Q1 profit jumps fivefold, operating margin tops Nvidia and TSMC South Korea's SK Hynix set a record quarterly profit in Q1 2026, with operating income surging fivefold year-on-year to $25.42 billion and an operating margin exceeding 70% — surpassing both Nvidia and TSMC. The company attributed the performance to insatiable AI memory demand and said supply will not keep pace with demand in the near term.
US "Samsung-Hynix" ETF (DRAM) crosses $1.1 billion AUM in two weeks The Roundhill Memory ETF (ticker: DRAM) — the first U.S. ETF concentrated on Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix — surpassed $1.1 billion in assets within two weeks of launch, reflecting surging global investor appetite for Korean memory chip exposure. As of April 21, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix together account for over 50% of the fund's holdings.
Samsung and SK Hynix race to upgrade China fabs as NAND demand surges As AI computing reshapes global chip demand, both Samsung and SK Hynix are accelerating upgrades to their Chinese manufacturing plants to address rapidly tightening NAND flash supply alongside DRAM. The moves underscore how the AI boom is creating simultaneous strain across multiple memory segments.
Naver · Kakao · LINE
Naver and Krafton partner with Mirae Asset for ₹6,000 crore India growth fund South Korea's Naver and game developer Krafton have partnered with Mirae Asset to launch a ₹6,000 crore (~$720 million) India-focused "Unicorn Growth Fund" targeting growth-stage tech startups in digital marketplaces and AI. The fund signals accelerating South Korean strategic investment in the Indian technology ecosystem.
Naver's agentic AI push enters critical Q2 milestone Naver has been deploying its AI agent ecosystem in phases: its AI shopping agent launched in Q1 2026, and a new AI-powered search tab is expected in Q2 2026, followed by travel and financial agents. The company is backing these efforts with over ₩1 trillion (~$691 million) in AI investment for the year — a major test of whether Korea's dominant internet platform can redefine its search and commerce business around autonomous AI.
Kakao accelerates AI-native transition alongside Naver Kakao is pursuing its own agentic AI transformation in parallel with Naver, with full-fledged AI agent services rolling out through 2026. Korea's two largest internet platforms are now competing directly in deploying AI agents that manage tasks on behalf of users — a shift that analysts describe as the most significant platform evolution since the mobile internet era.
Startups & Investment
Nvidia makes first-ever Korean startup bet: KAIST-founded Point2 Technology raises $76M Nvidia's corporate venture arm NVentures has made its first investment in a Korea-based startup, participating in a $76 million Series B extension round for Point2 Technology, a fabless AI chip company founded by KAIST researchers. The round also drew other major tech firms, marking a landmark validation of South Korea's emerging AI chip startup ecosystem.
Korean government selects 13 institutions to bridge research and startup ecosystem South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT has chosen 13 new dedicated institutions to connect public research outcomes to commercial markets, with each receiving intensive support over five years. The initiative is designed to accelerate technology transfer from universities and government labs into market-ready startups, part of a broader push to build a sustainable deep-tech startup pipeline.
Policy & Industry
Samsung workers threaten 18-day strike over pay gap with SK Hynix Tens of thousands of unionized Samsung Electronics workers rallied at the company's factory complex south of Seoul this week, demanding higher compensation and pointing to the widening pay gap with rival SK Hynix. Union organizers estimated 40,000 workers attended the rally; the union has threatened an 18-day strike beginning May 21 if demands are not met — a development that could disrupt production of AI chips at a critical moment of peak demand.
What to Watch
- Samsung union strike deadline (May 21): If wage negotiations fail, an 18-day work stoppage could ripple through Samsung's AI chip production lines at precisely the moment global demand is at peak levels — watch for escalation or resolution in the coming weeks.
- SK Hynix new plant groundbreaking: With construction reportedly starting this month on the ₩19 trillion advanced packaging facility, watch for details on capacity timelines and whether additional HBM supply will be sufficient to serve Nvidia's AI accelerator roadmap.
- Naver Q2 AI Tab launch: Naver's AI-powered search tab is scheduled to debut in Q2 2026 — its commercial performance will be a key early indicator of whether Korean internet platforms can successfully monetize agentic AI and defend against global competitors.
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