Gov't wary of chip boom liquidity spilling into housing market

Policymakers are growing increasingly concerned that a wave of liquidity generated by the ongoing semiconductor boom could spill over into Korea's already overheated housing market, fueled by record-high bonus payouts and low-interest employee loans at Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. Industry estimates suggest that bonus payouts and employee housing loan programs at the two chipmakers could unleash as much as 53 trillion won ($34.6 billion) in liquidity by next year, raising worries about further pressure on the housing market. The figure includes about 23 trillion won in bonus-related cash and more than 30 trillion won in low-interest housing loans available to employees. The estimates come as both companies prepare to roll out large bonus packages driven by the global artificial intelligence-driven semiconductor boom. SK hynix, which allocates 10 percent of its annual operating profit to employee bonuses, is expected to set aside about 26 trillion won for incentive payments based on forecasts that it will post an operating profit of 260 trillion won this year. The company also offers