South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said at a June 8 press conference that the gains from business success should be shared throughout society [1, 2]. He also announced the government will devise a plan to effectively use surplus tax revenues from the booming semiconductor sector, without providing detailed specifics [1, 2]. Lee said, "We will determine how to most effectively utilise the surplus tax revenues generated by the semiconductor industry" [2].
Lee spoke on the anniversary of his first year in office, highlighting plans to make South Korea the first country to fully integrate artificial intelligence across industries and position the country as a preferred partner for nations seeking defence self-reliance [1, 2].
South Korea’s semiconductor giants, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, reported record quarterly profits in early 2026 driven by strong AI demand for memory chips [2]. Lee distinguished corporate earnings growth from windfall tax revenue, noting an ongoing debate about how best to share such gains with workers and society [2].
Regarding global economic concerns, Lee said inflationary pressures are rising due to the conflict in Iran but stated a crisis is unlikely for South Korea [2].
The government is expected to soon unveil a large-scale investment project related to the semiconductor tax surplus, though Lee offered no further details at the press conference [2].
