South Korea Leads in HBM and AI Patents, but GPU and Platform Gaps Hinder G3 Ambitions - finance.biggo.com

South Korea demonstrates strong foundational AI capabilities, leading the global High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) market and ranking first in AI patent applications. However, it lags behind U.S. Big Tech i... Read original →

South Korea has solidified its position in high bandwidth memory (HBM) and leads in AI patent filings, reflecting strong foundational tech capabilities. However, its reliance on U.S. GPU platforms and lack of integrated AI infrastructure hinder its ambition to become an AI G3 power. Despite government efforts to merge semiconductor and AI technologies, the absence of end-to-end ecosystem control limits its global competitiveness. TSMC plays a central role in manufacturing, but the lack of platform integration poses a structural weakness. In the next 12–24 months, without bridging the gap in high-end computing platforms, South Korea risks being sidelined in the global AI race. The U.S. maintains dominance in GPU and AI infrastructure, while China accelerates its own AI strategy. Korea’s failure to act decisively could result in a lost opportunity in the next wave of tech competition.