1. Semiconductors

Samsung has announced a domestic investment plan totalling ₩2,655 trillion. In addition to ₩2,030 trillion directed at its existing semiconductor clusters in Pyeongtaek and Yongin, a further ₩625 trillion will be allocated to new sites across the Honam (south-west), Chungcheong (central), and Yeongnam (south-east) regions. The largest single allocation — ₩425 trillion — goes to Honam, with ₩400 trillion of that earmarked for the construction of a new semiconductor fabrication plant in Gwangju, which is to be developed as a next-generation production hub alongside the existing Pyeongtaek and Yongin facilities.

On 30th June, at a presidential policy presentation on advanced industry in the south-west held in Gwangju, Samsung Electronics vice-chairman Jeon Young-hyun and SK Hynix chief executive Kwak Noh-jung separately announced investment plans for a cutting-edge semiconductor fab and an AI data centre in the Gwangju area. Amkor Technology Korea also disclosed plans to expand its advanced semiconductor packaging capacity at the event. Investment blueprints for the Chungcheong region (₩140 trillion, covering high-bandwidth memory and AI substrates) and the Yeongnam region (₩60 trillion, covering AI data centres, robotics, and batteries) followed in quick succession, sketching out a nationwide semiconductor and AI industrial belt.

Concerns about oversupply stemming from a shift in Meta's business model triggered a sharp decline in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index, dragging down Samsung Electronics (down 9.06% to ₩286,000) and SK Hynix (down 14.57% to ₩2,187,000) on 2nd July. Foreign investors sold nearly ₩5 trillion worth of shares in the two companies over two sessions, though retail investors absorbed roughly ₩8 trillion. SK Hynix staged a recovery of more than 10% on 3rd July. That same day, US technology publication The Information reported that Anthropic is in discussions with Samsung's foundry division over the use of its 2-nanometre process and advanced packaging technology to manufacture custom AI chips.

On 3rd July, President Lee Jae-myung, speaking at a Yeongnam regional policy presentation in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, confirmed ₩312 trillion in investment commitments from six major conglomerates — including Samsung and SK — designating the region as a hub for "physical AI." SK plans to invest ₩140 trillion to build a 2-gigawatt AI data centre complex, while Samsung Electronics will commit ₩60 trillion to AI data centres, humanoid robot manufacturing, and next-generation battery production lines. Of that total, ₩16 trillion is allocated to Ulsan for what would be the world's first mass-production facility for all-solid-state batteries.

2. Substrates

Samsung Electro-Mechanics announced on 2nd July that it will establish a joint venture called GlaSSEM with Dongwoo Fine-Chem — an affiliate of Japan's Sumitomo Chemical Group — to produce glass cores, a critical material used in glass substrates. On the same day, the broader Samsung group announced an ₩8 trillion investment at Samsung Electro-Mechanics' Sejong factory as part of the Chungcheong regional industry showcase. Despite these announcements, jitteriness over the semiconductor sector sent Samsung Electro-Mechanics' share price tumbling roughly 9% on each of two consecutive trading days.

3. Internet

LS Securities maintained its target price of ₩303,000 on Naver on 3rd July, citing continued growth in the company's commerce business, driven by Naver Plus Store. Second-quarter revenue is estimated at ₩3.4023 trillion, up 17% year on year, with operating profit forecast at ₩561.4 billion, an 8% increase. Naver plans to spend approximately ₩1 trillion on GPU procurement this year to support internal AI operations. Its planned AI factory, initially sized at 200 megawatts, is understood to be in the final stages of contracting with a single anchor customer.

4. Renewable Energy

Hyundai Motor Group announced on 3rd July, at the Yeongnam regional showcase, plans to invest ₩42 trillion over the next ten years to establish future-vehicle and components clusters in Ulsan, Daegu, and Changwon. The plan also includes the development of energy infrastructure spanning small modular reactors (SMRs), offshore wind, and electrolytic hydrogen production facilities.

5. Power Equipment

HD Hyundai Electric announced on 2nd July that it had signed a long-term supply agreement worth a combined ₩1.1212 trillion with a global technology major for North American data centres, comprising ₩553.9 billion in distribution equipment and ₩567.3 billion in power equipment. On the same day, LS Electric held a completion ceremony for its "DC Factory" in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province — billed as the world's first manufacturing facility to run entirely on direct-current power distribution.

6. Shipbuilding

Hanwha Ocean has been named the preferred bidder for the Korean Next-Generation Destroyer programme (KDDX), awarded by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, edging out HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. Hanwha Ocean is also locked in an extremely tight race with Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems for Canada's next-generation submarine programme (CPSP), which is valued at up to ₩60 trillion; an announcement is said to be imminent. At the Yeongnam regional showcase on 3rd July, Samsung also revealed plans to invest ₩10 trillion in Geoje to build high-value specialist vessels.

7. Defence

Hanwha Group announced on 3rd July at the Yeongnam showcase that it will invest ₩55 trillion through 2040 in space, aerospace, and defence, including launch vehicles, unmanned aircraft carriers, and unmanned surface vessels. A day earlier, AiRux, a supplier to Hanwha Aero Space, disclosed that it had signed a contract to supply drone mission-equipment modules for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) reconnaissance systems.

8. Nuclear Power

Doosan Enerbility received a commendation from the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs on 1st July at a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Korea Export-Import Bank, in recognition of its contribution to the national economy through nuclear power and SMR exports. Hyundai Motor Group's Yeongnam investment blueprint also includes SMR development as part of its energy infrastructure plans.

9. K-pop

Entertainment stocks surged on 2nd July after Hana Securities declared the sector "extremely undervalued" and upgraded its recommendation to overweight. SM Entertainment rose 8.04%, Hybe gained 6.13%, and JYP Entertainment climbed 5.64%. Hybe's second-quarter operating profit is estimated at ₩144.5 billion, up 119% year on year, buoyed by BTS's world tour; SM is forecast to post ₩53.8 billion, up 13%, on the back of simultaneous comebacks by NCT WISH, RIIZE, and aespa. JYP and YG are expected to turn in softer second-quarter results, but anticipation is building for a second-half rebound ahead of a Stray Kids tour in August and a BIGBANG 20th-anniversary tour.

10. Retail

The Seoul Bankruptcy Court ruled on 3rd July to terminate the court-administered restructuring proceedings for Homeplus, one of South Korea's major supermarket chains. The decision followed the collapse of talks to sell the core business after the disposal of the Express convenience-store division, a resulting contraction in revenue, and a sharp rise in priority claims against the estate. The court indicated that proceedings could be reinstated if Homeplus raises approximately ₩200 billion in operating funds and files an immediate appeal within 14 days. The industry is already discussing the prospect of a broader redistribution of market share, with rivals E-Mart and Lotte Mart positioned as the likely beneficiaries.

11. Leisure

Hana Securities forecast on 3rd July that South Korea's foreign-only casino operators would post record operating profits in the second half of the year, regardless of weakness in Macau. Estimated second-quarter operating profits are: Kangwon Land ₩57.6 billion, Lotte Tour Development ₩50.7 billion, Paradise ₩48.1 billion, and Grand Korea Leisure ₩24.1 billion. Rising inbound tourism and a weaker won were cited as the principal drivers; Lotte Tour Development and Paradise were named as top picks.