Geopolitical events
On September 15, 2026, South Korea and Japan ratified the "East Asian Semiconductor Defense Alliance," a strategic framework designed to insulate the regional technology sector from the macroeconomic volatility of the West Asia War. The agreement allocates $20 billion in public investments toward the development of a "Secure Silicon Corridor," prioritizing the domestic production of sub--2nm logic chips. This alliance represents a significant geopolitical shift, as both nations move to consolidate their industrial bases against global supply chain fragmentation. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and President Yoon Suk--yeol are scheduled to hold a follow--up implementation summit in Seoul on November 12, 2026, to finalize the fund's governance structure.