South Korea's mega chips gamble tests optimism of AI cycle

'One-time opportunity': South Korea bets big on AI boom

South Korea tripled AI spending via Samsung and SK hynix fab expansion (SK hynix +770% YoY), exploiting memory scarcity against Chinese competition. For IT budgets: memory prices stay elevated until AI demand normalizes; Korea's supply diversification hedges China reliance but raises procurement costs near-term.