▲ SK Hynix headquarters in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province
"What is 'Samjeonnix'?", "Investors' faith in semiconductor stocks is wavering. What kind of incantations can they recite?" (Answer: Sam-men, Ha-men), "What is a 'Silicon Collar'?"
The New York Times (NYT) shed light on the "semiconductor fever" in South Korean society amid the global artificial intelligence (AI) boom on Thursday (June 11, local time).
The report particularly drew attention by presenting a unique quiz format utilizing the latest Korean slang and memes.
In an article titled "AI and the Chip Boom: Take a Quiz on South Korean Slang and Memes," published in its online edition that day, the NYT introduced the semiconductor craze in Korea through six multiple-choice questions.
The newspaper noted that memes and slang in Korean online culture serve as indicators that reflect the political and social atmosphere in real time. Beyond stock market jargon, it mentioned changes in the real estate market such as "shuttle-gwon" (proximity to company shuttle stops), as well as shifts in workplace culture and college admissions, including "SK Hynix varsity jackets" and "Ha-eui-chi-han-yak-su."
The quiz included questions such as, "Apartments near subway stations have long been the most sought-after. What is becoming popular now?" and "What should you wear to make a good impression on others?"
The answers were "a spot where company shuttle buses pick up employees" and "a vest with SK Hynix printed on the back," respectively.
It also introduced the term "Ha-eui-chi-han-yak-su," which adds "Ha" (from Hynix) to the traditional top-tier career path of "Eui-chi-han-yak-su" (medicine, dentistry, oriental medicine, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine). This highlighted the intense competition in the education sector, where semiconductor-related contract departments have risen to a status comparable to medical schools.
The NYT reported that in the era of AI, South Korea's semiconductor industry, which accounts for more than 60% of global chip production, has grown rapidly.
It explained that the KOSPI index has more than doubled over the past year, increasing market capitalization by trillions of dollars, and that some employees at major semiconductor firms have received hundreds of thousands of dollars in performance bonuses.
The report added that the boom in the semiconductor industry has become a topic of conversation everywhere, from family dinner tables to smoking breaks and online gaming cafes.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.