South Korea has unveiled a near-$1.2 trillion, decade-long push into semiconductors, AI and data centres led by Samsung and SK Hynix, in a state-orchestrated bet that towers over the EU's Chips Act.
A Seoul court jailed former South Korean first lady Kim Keon-hee for seven years for bribery, ruling she traded on her status as the president's wife to broker jobs and business favours in return for jewellery, a designer handbag and fine art. She was also fined 64.8 million won and vowed to appeal.
SK Hynix has filed to raise up to about $29bn through a Nasdaq listing of American depositary shares, a deal that would rank among the largest equity offerings on record and stands as a marquee bet on the AI-driven memory boom.
North Korea commissioned its first guided-missile destroyer and announced plans to build 10,000-tonne nuclear-armed warships, a programme analysts say will test the limits of its shipyards.