SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who also serves as the Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said at a recent media briefing, 'In 2027, global semiconductor demand will significantly increase. Demand in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector is expected to increase by 60% to 100% compared to 2026, and overall demand for semiconductor products is also projected to increase by at least 50% to 60%.' He further pointed out that additional supply is almost zero, and the supply-demand gap is likely to widen further.

Regarding the expansion of manufacturing, which is feared to lead to an early end of the semiconductor 'supercycle', Chairman Chey stated, 'Current chip prices are already at abnormally high levels and should ideally fall. If prices continue to rise, 'chip inflation' will become even more severe. In that case, the semiconductor industry will inevitably face a painful backlash.' He also noted that increasing supply to lower prices does not mean companies cannot make a profit.

Chairman Chey expressed the view that following energy and power equipment, material supply and facility construction could become new barriers constraining industrial development, and that with the development of the AI industry, there is a risk of shortages of electric wires and related materials, with prices of related products already rising, and the supply of submarine cables also failing to meet demand. He also pointed out that construction-related specifications and standards are changing every 1 to 2 years, which is increasing the difficulty of construction.

Chairman Chey also touched upon the construction plan for a South Korean AI data center with an investment of 1,000 trillion won (approximately 150 billion yen), stating, 'The launch of this project means that customers already exist. Furthermore, securing long-term contracts of 5 to 15 years must be a prerequisite for fundraising.' He added that only after investors, equipment, land, and electricity are all secured can the project enter the construction phase. (Source: CGTN Japanese)