If not made in the US, there is a price to pay: Semiconductor tariffs threatened, South Korea troop deployment considered; Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Gender Equality to move to Sejong next year, 109 public institutions to be cut | Jeongpro, Lee Ju-ho, Kwon Soon-woo, Park Byeong-chang

Summary

The hosts and News Team Lead Kwon Soon-woo discuss overnight U.S. market gains and the case for a KOSPI rebound, then examine U.S. semiconductor tariff pressure on Korean chipmakers, government public-institution restructuring, and large global energy and AI infrastructure projects by Samsung C&T, OCI, and POSCO.

• U.S. markets rose and the KOSPI is expected to follow as long-end Treasury yields ease and the yen strengthens after BOJ officials signaled flexible rate hikes.
• U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick reaffirmed semiconductor tariff threats and increased pressure on Taiwan and Korean chipmakers to expand U.S. production.
• Samsung Electronics and SK hynix face intensifying U.S. fab-build pressure, with the historical U.S.-Japan semiconductor pact cited as a cautionary analogy.
• The Korean government plans to relocate ministries to Sejong and consolidate 109 public institutions, including power generation and energy agencies.
• Samsung C&T is joining a 1.2GW SMR project as EPC partner with GE Vernova-Hitachi.
• OCI is building a large Texas solar plant for AI data-center power demand, supported by U.S. modules and Malaysian polysilicon.
• POSCO is partnering with BHP on hydrogen reduction steelmaking in Australia, targeting green steel commercialization.