Korea still balks at joining US-led chip alliance
President Yoon Suk-yeol talks with U.S. President Joe Biden prior to a trilateral summit among Korea, the U.S. and Japan on the sidelines of the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid, Spain, June 29. Courtesy of presidential officeGovernment delays decision on fears of possible trade conflict with ChinaBy Baek Byung-yeulKorea is still hesitant to join the United States-led semiconductor supply chain alliance, known as the Chip 4, fearing that this could lead to further retaliation from China similar to its response to the deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile battery here in 2016.“We cannot evaluate the direct impact of Chip 4 because the details of the alliance have not been decided and the agenda of the alliance has not been set,” Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Lee Chang-yang reiterated during a conference at the National Assembly on July 29.“The government is discussing what cooperation and strategies are needed to increase the competitiveness of the Korean semiconductor industry in the midst of the international situation.&rdquo
