"Do you believe in semiconductor stocks? Amen"... NYT analyzes the 'Ha-eui-chi-han-yak-su' craze as a Korean neologism

[Financial News] The New York Times (NYT), a U.S. daily newspaper, has highlighted the 'semiconductor craze' sweeping Korean society.
According to Yonhap News Agency, NYT introduced Korea's semiconductor boom in an online article published on the 11th local time under the title, 'AI and Semiconductor Fever: Take a Quiz on Korean Neologisms and Memes.' The article used six multiple-choice questions in a distinctive quiz format built around Korea's latest buzzwords and memes.
NYT explained that in Korean online culture, memes and neologisms serve as indicators that reflect political and social moods in real time. It then posed questions such as, 'What is Samjeonnix?', 'Investor confidence in semiconductor stocks is wavering. What chant might they use?' (answer: Sammen and Hamen), and 'What is Silicon Collar?' while explaining their meanings.
Notably, the quiz went beyond stock-market slang and also touched on changes in the real estate market, such as 'shuttle stop pass,' which refers to a company's shuttle bus boarding point, as well as workplace culture and college admissions trends, including 'SK hynix varsity jacket' and 'Ha-eui-chi-han-yak-su.' It also included questions such as, 'Apartments near subway stations have long been the most sought-after. So what is becoming popular now?' and 'What should you wear to make a good impression on others?'
In particular, 'Ha-eui-chi-han-yak-su' refers to the addition of the first syllable of Hynix, 'Ha,' to 'Eui-chi-han-yak-su,' a traditional shorthand for the most prestigious career paths in Korea: medical school, dental school, Korean medicine, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. The term underscored the fierce competition in education, where semiconductor contract departments have become as highly valued as medical schools.
NYT reported that in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), Korea's semiconductor industry has grown rapidly, accounting for more than 60% of global semiconductor production. It also noted in detail that the KOSPI (Korea Composite Stock Price Index) has more than doubled over the past year, adding trillions of dollars in market capitalization, and that some employees at major semiconductor companies will receive performance bonuses worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
bng@fnnews.com Kim Hee-sun Reporter