Semiconductor Surplus Triggers a 20 Trillion Won Budget.

The South Korean government is currently finalizing a massive 20 trillion won (~$15 billion) supplementary budget, funded entirely by a "tax windfall" from the semiconductor sector. Domestic giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are on track to record operating profits of nearly 100 trillion won each this year, driven by a global shortage of High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) chips used in AI data centers. In February 2026, semiconductor exports soared by 160.8% year-over-year, now accounting for nearly 35% of South Korea’s total export volume. Because of this excess revenue, the government plans to execute the supplementary budget without issuing any new national bonds, focusing the funds on regional infrastructure and social welfare.

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