Prosecutors raid offices of global chip suppliers over price-fixing allegations

South Korean prosecutors have launched a forced investigation into the domestic offices of three major global semiconductor companies on suspicion of price-fixing. The probe targets China's Montaj Technology, Japan's Renesas Electronics, and the U.S.-based Rambus, all key suppliers of memory interface chips (MICs) to industry giants like Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron.

Memory interface chips are crucial components that control data flow between central processing units (CPUs) or graphics processing units (GPUs) and memory modules, significantly impacting data transfer speed and stability. Prosecutors suspect these companies, which collectively dominate the global MIC market, may have colluded on pricing when supplying these essential components to their major clients.

The investigation, led by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, reportedly stems from the prosecution's own discovery of potential collusion. Authorities seized mobile phones from some company representatives during the raids. The focus will be on analyzing the seized materials to determine the extent of information exchange, the period and scope of the alleged collusion, and its impact on actual delivery prices.

This action is part of a broader crackdown on alleged anti-competitive practices. The prosecution recently indicted four major oil refiners and their executives for allegedly colluding on oil prices, contributing to a surge in domestic fuel costs. Similar investigations have targeted companies involved in alleged price-fixing for flour, sugar, and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) bids.