The Korean government will finalize the selection of its proprietary AI foundation model in January and unveil it to the public, aiming to develop citizen-facing services across defense, manufacturing, and cultural sectors.
The selected model targets entry into the global top 10 by 2026. The government plans to expand AI education opportunities for all citizens through both online and offline channels and secure 37,000 GPUs by next year as part of its push to make Korea "the nation that uses AI best."
Semiconductor Big Deal Takes Shape
Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) is in discussions to manufacture AMD's next-generation CPUs using its 2-nanometer process. The company plans to produce AMD chip prototypes through multi-project wafer (MPW) runs soon and finalize the contract by January next year.
Samsung's foundry division recorded approximately 4 trillion won in losses during the first half of this year but has shown signs of recovery after securing orders from big tech companies including Tesla and Apple. Adding AMD to its client list would accelerate the division's path to profitability.
AI Infrastructure Demand Surges
LS Group received positive reviews from Microsoft for its next-generation AI data center power solutions. LS Cable & System showcased bus ducts, DC transmission networks, and superconducting cables, while LS Materials shared its ultracapacitor technology for managing sudden power surges.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects global data center power consumption will more than double from approximately 415 TWh in 2024 to 945 TWh by 2030.
Other News for Job Seekers
A Korea Employers Federation survey found that 99% of 100 domestic companies with annual revenue exceeding 500 billion won called for supplementary legislation to the so-called Yellow Envelope Act. The most urgent issue cited was "postponing implementation until legal uncertainties are resolved," selected by 63.6% of respondents. Overall, 87% said the law would negatively impact labor-management relations.
Starting December 15, the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) will require first-time retail investors in overseas derivatives to complete mandatory pre-investment education (at least one hour) and simulated trading (at least three hours). According to the FSS, individual investors have recorded average annual losses of 449 billion won in high-risk overseas derivatives regardless of market conditions.
Shinhan Bank's equity-linked deposit (ELD) sales exceeded 10 trillion won this year, marking a record high. ELD products protect principal while linking interest returns to stock indices, and are covered by deposit insurance. Shinhan Bank holds 86% of the banking sector's total ELD sales.
