South Korea rejects rumors of US equity stakes in Samsung, SK hynix under CHIPS Act

South Korea's presidential office dismissed speculation that Washington plans to take equity stakes in Korean chipmakers that receive CHIPS Act support, calling it "rumors." Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said no Korean company has been approached and noted that "converting subsidies into equity" does not apply because none has received such subsidies yet.

The chatter followed comments by U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who told CNBC the government "should get an equity stake" in manufacturers that accept CHIPS funding, with Reuters reporting that President Donald Trump "liked the idea." Kang said companies confirmed they have not been contacted about such arrangements.

Samsung is building a $37 billion advanced chip plant in Taylor, Texas, and secured $4.75 billion in subsidies late last year, an amount equal to about 1.6 percent of the company's outstanding shares at current market value. SK hynix plans a $3.87 billion advanced packaging facility in West Lafayette, Indiana, backed by $485 million in U.S. subsidies.

Politically, Seoul hinted at hardball ahead of a planned summit with Trump next week. "I suspect it was the other side… that spread various rumors as a form of leverage ahead of the negotiations," Kang said.

A separate account framed the rumor mill this way: Digitimes linked the speculation to Lutnick confirming talks with Intel over a potential 10 percent government stake tied to its CHIPS package, and to reports that the approach could extend to other recipients, including Samsung. South Korea's presidential office, often referred to as the Blue House, publicly denied any move to buy Samsung shares.

Any such push would collide with domestic sensitivities. Some estimates peg Samsung's revenue contribution at roughly one-fifth of South Korea's gross domestic product, reinforcing why policymakers resist even non-voting foreign stakes in a national champion. A few analysts nevertheless argue a U.S. stake could ease market access, soften import taxes, and help bridge tensions created by a 25 percent tariff on goods entering the United States.