South Korea’s Semiconductor Exports Hit Record High Driven by AI Memory Demand

South Korea’s semiconductor industry has achieved a historic milestone in February 2026, with export values reaching an unprecedented 25.2 billion US dollars. This surge is primarily propelled by the global artificial intelligence boom, which has triggered an insatiable demand for high-bandwidth memory and advanced storage solutions. The intensity of this demand is visible at Incheon International Airport, where cargo planes are being fully loaded from the early hours of the morning to keep up with the shipping schedule.

According to recent data, memory chips exported through Incheon Airport in January alone totaled approximately 300 tons, valued at 12.1 billion US dollars. While these high-value components account for only 0.6 percent of total export weight, they represent a staggering 55 percent of the total export value. When including non-memory products and solid state drives, the share of semiconductors in air-bound export value reaches nearly 70 percent. Industry experts suggest that the continued rise in memory prices and large-scale investments in artificial intelligence data centers are the core drivers behind this robust growth, solidifying South Korea's pivotal role in the global high-tech supply chain.