AI Hardware & Memory Pricing: Nvidia is set to raise AI server prices by more than 15% as tight high-bandwidth memory supply boosts pricing power for Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, feeding higher data-center costs. Solid-State Batteries: LG Energy Solution unveiled a sulfide solid-state battery prototype targeting 50% higher energy density while keeping EV safety standards, aiming to solve the scaling gap from lab cells to vehicle-sized packs. Semiconductor Supply Chain & Packaging: A Korean firm JWMT is pushing glass substrate tech for chip packaging, using laser processing to create ultra-fine channels that could improve performance and help next-gen stacking. Energy Crunch for AI & Chips: Korea’s next-gen semiconductor and AI plans face a power constraint, with a government assessment projecting peak demand could jump to 158.4–165 GW by 2040. Smartphone Market Pressure: Analysts expect 2026 smartphone shipments to fall over 14% as chip and memory costs push up prices and squeeze lower-margin models. Public Tech Reliability: KakaoTalk’s text-to-speech feature was disabled for days due to an iOS critical error, raising concerns for users with visual impairments. Robotics & Research Funding: Intel Korea applied to join Korea’s AI and robotics association, while the National Research Foundation of Korea plans a new unit to track university funding results and steer future support. Governance & Safety: Jeju police scrutiny grows after an officer allegedly closed missing-person cases early, highlighting calls for stronger safeguards as police powers expand.