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The de-globalization trend of the semiconductor industry triggered by the recent U.S.-China strategic competition has accelerated the dissolution of the global cooperation system based on efficiency. Due to security concerns, the United States has pushed to restructure the global semiconductor supply chain even while enduring enormous cost burdens. This article views such U.S efforts in a new techno-geopolitical context combining technology, economy, and security, which goes beyond strengthening the competitiveness of a specific technology. A clear example is the “Fab 4 (Chip 4) Alliance,” consisting of the United States, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan to form an alternative semiconductor supply chain. By examining the “Fab 4” case, this article strives to explain the restructuring process of the supply chain from a techno-geopolitical perspective. Countries in the global semiconductor supply chain may employ various options: supply chain design and reconstruction, super-gap strategy in core technology areas, and niche strategy based on indispensable technology. South Korea finds itself in a delicate position between the U.S. and China, even more so when considering the semiconductor trade structure. While joining the Fab 4 alliance, Korea should also explore strategies to secure its national interests, such as enhancing its super-gap of technological superiority, using Fab 4 as a safeguard against external threats, and exercising strategic flexibility in the restructuring process of the GVC-RVC-TVC supply chain.
