Seoul, May 15 -- The Trump-Xi summit in Beijing is forcing Korea's semiconductor industry to weigh a difficult trade-off as equipment suppliers see fresh business opportunities while manufacturers fear a narrowed technology gap. This dilemma pits the potential for immediate sales in China against the long-term risk of helping Chinese firms catch up to industry leaders like Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.

According to a report by the Korea Herald, the two-day summit centers on Washington's semiconductor export controls and Beijing's leverage over rare earth supplies, two issues with direct implications for Korea's chip supply chain and export outlook.

The report mentioned that Washington recently tightened restrictions on semiconductor...