South Korea and Taiwan are nimble, mid-sized economies known for their critical technological competencies in high-tech industries like semiconductors. These industries have been crucial for their business diversification and specialisation. During the period of globalisation from the 1980s to the 2010s, both nations rapidly climbed the economic ladder. However, the emergence of US-China trade tensions in the late 2010s disrupted the global landscape. The decoupling of high-tech value chains in favour of inward-oriented industrial policies presented a dilemma for semiconductor firms in Korea (e.g. Samsung Electronics) and Taiwan (e.g. TSMC). This paper provides an overview of recent changes in their semiconductor industries and discusses the concerns surrounding industrial value migration. It explores the strategic technological ventures taken by both economies to navigate this uncertain environment.
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