[Special Stocks] Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix Face Concerns Over Impact as US-China Semiconductor Regulations Loom

Major domestic semiconductor stocks such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are declining amid expectations that the Biden administration's semiconductor sanctions against China are imminent.

As of 9:37 a.m. on the 29th, Samsung Electronics is trading at 54,300 KRW on the KOSPI, down 1,200 KRW (2.16%) from the previous day. At the same time, SK Hynix is recording 159,800 KRW, down 1,300 KRW (0.81%).

The Biden administration is reportedly planning to announce additional export restrictions on Chinese semiconductors as early as next week. The sanctions are expected to include provisions related to high-bandwidth memory chips, which could also affect Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.

On the 28th, Bloomberg News reported, citing multiple sources, that the U.S. government plans to announce additional export restrictions on semiconductor equipment and AI memory chips to China as early as next week.

According to sources, the upcoming policy will differ from the original draft by limiting sanctions to some of Huawei's suppliers. The original draft considered export restrictions on six Huawei suppliers, but the scope has been narrowed.

The sanctions are expected to include high-bandwidth memory chips essential for AI responsible for data storage. A source told Bloomberg, "Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology are expected to be affected by these additional measures," adding, "The timing and details of these regulations have changed several times." This suggests that nothing has been finalized before the official announcement.