Overview
- South Korea’s 2024 Technology Level Assessment reports China leading Korea by 0.7 years overall, widening from a 0.2-year gap in 2022.
- On a U.S.=100 benchmark, the assessment places the EU at 93.8, China at 86.8, Japan at 86.2, and South Korea at 82.8.
- China has overtaken Korea in secondary batteries, flipping a 0.9-year Korean lead in 2022 to a 0.2-year deficit for Korea in 2024.
- In semiconductors and displays, China marginally leads with a 91.5 score versus Korea’s 91.2, though Korea retains strength in memory chips.
- A KIET survey finds China more competitive in robotics, EVs, batteries, and non-memory semiconductors, reflecting a shift toward ecosystem-level competition.