South Korea considers sharing “super-profits” from semiconductor boom

11:15

A senior South Korean presidential aide has suggested that part of the extraordinary profits generated by the country’s semiconductor boom could be shared more broadly across society, as the rapid growth of the artificial intelligence sector reshapes the national economy.

Kim Yong-beom, senior presidential secretary for policy, said in a social media post that South Korea may be shifting away from a traditional export-driven model toward a more concentrated “technology monopoly-like structure,” driven by global demand for high-performance chips.

The country’s semiconductor giants, including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, have recorded record profits in recent quarters thanks to booming demand for AI infrastructure and advanced chips used in data centers worldwide.

Kim warned that while this transformation represents a major economic opportunity, it could also deepen social inequality. He proposed the idea of a temporary “national dividend” system, under which a portion of these “super-profits” could be redistributed to support start-ups, rural workers, fishermen, artists, and pension systems.

He described such redistribution not only as social support but also as a “maintenance cost of the system,” aimed at ensuring long-term stability in a rapidly changing economy.

The debate comes as labor tensions grow within major tech firms. The union of Samsung Electronics has called for the removal of limits on performance bonuses and has proposed allocating around 15% of operating profits to employee rewards. Mediation talks with management are expected to continue.

At the same time, South Korea is accelerating investment in artificial intelligence, with plans to significantly increase public spending to compete with global leaders such as the United States and China in the AI race.

Some political voices have also supported the idea of redistribution. Lawmaker Moon Geum-ju of the ruling Democratic Party argued that the success of the semiconductor industry was partly built on sacrifices made by rural communities during earlier phases of economic liberalization, and suggested they should benefit from the sector’s profits.