Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
South Korea built one of the world’s most powerful chip industries through Samsung and SK Hynix. But in the most advanced foundry race, Taiwan’s TSMC pulled far ahead.
Footage: Shutterstock
Inquiries: behindasian@gmail.com
Brought to you by the Behind Asian Team.
Source List
Nano scale and transistor physics: SRI NanoSense gives the DNA width reference at around 2.5 nanometers, Princeton lists silicon’s atomic radius at 0.132 nm, and IEEE Spectrum explains quantum tunneling as a limit in modern transistors.
Foundry market share: TrendForce reported TSMC at 70.2% foundry share in Q2 2025, while Samsung was far behind at around 7.3%. Taipei Times also reported TSMC near 70% for 2025, with Samsung at 7.2% and about $12.63 billion in sales.
TSMC annual sales: Focus Taiwan reported TSMC’s 2025 consolidated sales at NT$3.81 trillion, with record profit.
Samsung and Tesla: Reuters confirmed Elon Musk said Tesla signed a chip supply deal with Samsung, valued at $16.5 billion through 2033. Use this number if you want the safer factual version.
Samsung yield context: SamMobile, citing Hankyung, reported Samsung’s 2nm yields around 60% for some chips and around 50% for Exynos 2600, which is safer than claiming a confirmed 70% yield.
Samsung 2nm and GAA roadmap: Reuters reported Samsung’s foundry push, GAA technology, and 2nm plans, while Samsung’s own foundry material explains its GAA/MBCFET direction.
ASML EUV and High-NA EUV: ASML’s official product page explains EUV, 13.5 nm light, High-NA 0.55 numerical aperture, and 8 nm resolution. ASML also lists the TWINSCAN EXE:5200B as the second 0.55 NA High-NA EUV system for advanced production.
Samsung High-NA EUV purchases: TrendForce reported Samsung’s planned purchase of two ASML High-NA EUV tools for about 1.1 trillion won, with delivery timing around late 2025 and early 2026.
Yongin Semiconductor Mega Cluster: South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT said the cluster plan includes 16 new fabs and 622 trillion won in private investment by 2047. YNA also reported the plan and expected job creation.
Yongin water supply: Invest Korea reported the long-term plan to supply 600,000 tons of water daily through dam conversion and water infrastructure.
Samsung 2026 investment: Reuters reported Samsung planned more than 110 trillion won in 2026 investment for facilities and R&D.
South Korea chip infrastructure support: Reuters reported South Korea’s plan for 14 trillion won in low-interest loans, including support for power transmission infrastructure for the Yongin and Pyeongtaek chip region.
US CHIPS Act guardrails: NIST explains that CHIPS Act guardrails restrict recipients from expanding semiconductor manufacturing in foreign countries of concern. The Federal Register also covers the final guardrails rule.
US export controls on Samsung and SK Hynix China fabs: BIS/Federal Register documented the removal of Samsung China Semiconductor and SK Hynix China from the Validated End-User list, effective December 31, 2025. Reuters later reported annual licenses for 2026.
Hormuz and Qatar disruption: Reuters reported the ongoing U.S.-Iran war and disrupted Strait of Hormuz shipping, while Al Jazeera reported QatarEnergy halting LNG production after attacks on facilities in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed.
Helium supply risk: Chemical & Engineering News reported that the Iran war threatened global helium supply, with attacks on Qatar and Hormuz disrupting roughly one-third of global helium supply.
South Korea built one of the world’s most powerful chip industries through Samsung and SK Hynix. But in the most advanced foundry race, Taiwan’s TSMC pulled far ahead.
Footage: Shutterstock
Inquiries: behindasian@gmail.com
Brought to you by the Behind Asian Team.
Source List
Nano scale and transistor physics: SRI NanoSense gives the DNA width reference at around 2.5 nanometers, Princeton lists silicon’s atomic radius at 0.132 nm, and IEEE Spectrum explains quantum tunneling as a limit in modern transistors.
Foundry market share: TrendForce reported TSMC at 70.2% foundry share in Q2 2025, while Samsung was far behind at around 7.3%. Taipei Times also reported TSMC near 70% for 2025, with Samsung at 7.2% and about $12.63 billion in sales.
TSMC annual sales: Focus Taiwan reported TSMC’s 2025 consolidated sales at NT$3.81 trillion, with record profit.
Samsung and Tesla: Reuters confirmed Elon Musk said Tesla signed a chip supply deal with Samsung, valued at $16.5 billion through 2033. Use this number if you want the safer factual version.
Samsung yield context: SamMobile, citing Hankyung, reported Samsung’s 2nm yields around 60% for some chips and around 50% for Exynos 2600, which is safer than claiming a confirmed 70% yield.
Samsung 2nm and GAA roadmap: Reuters reported Samsung’s foundry push, GAA technology, and 2nm plans, while Samsung’s own foundry material explains its GAA/MBCFET direction.
ASML EUV and High-NA EUV: ASML’s official product page explains EUV, 13.5 nm light, High-NA 0.55 numerical aperture, and 8 nm resolution. ASML also lists the TWINSCAN EXE:5200B as the second 0.55 NA High-NA EUV system for advanced production.
Samsung High-NA EUV purchases: TrendForce reported Samsung’s planned purchase of two ASML High-NA EUV tools for about 1.1 trillion won, with delivery timing around late 2025 and early 2026.
Yongin Semiconductor Mega Cluster: South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT said the cluster plan includes 16 new fabs and 622 trillion won in private investment by 2047. YNA also reported the plan and expected job creation.
Yongin water supply: Invest Korea reported the long-term plan to supply 600,000 tons of water daily through dam conversion and water infrastructure.
Samsung 2026 investment: Reuters reported Samsung planned more than 110 trillion won in 2026 investment for facilities and R&D.
South Korea chip infrastructure support: Reuters reported South Korea’s plan for 14 trillion won in low-interest loans, including support for power transmission infrastructure for the Yongin and Pyeongtaek chip region.
US CHIPS Act guardrails: NIST explains that CHIPS Act guardrails restrict recipients from expanding semiconductor manufacturing in foreign countries of concern. The Federal Register also covers the final guardrails rule.
US export controls on Samsung and SK Hynix China fabs: BIS/Federal Register documented the removal of Samsung China Semiconductor and SK Hynix China from the Validated End-User list, effective December 31, 2025. Reuters later reported annual licenses for 2026.
Hormuz and Qatar disruption: Reuters reported the ongoing U.S.-Iran war and disrupted Strait of Hormuz shipping, while Al Jazeera reported QatarEnergy halting LNG production after attacks on facilities in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed.
Helium supply risk: Chemical & Engineering News reported that the Iran war threatened global helium supply, with attacks on Qatar and Hormuz disrupting roughly one-third of global helium supply.
