South Korea moves to tackle soaring PC prices

The government of South Korea has unveiled a package of measures aimed at easing rising digital costs, as global demand for AI infrastructure drives up prices for memory chips and personal computing hardware.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Fair Trade Commission will increase scrutiny of DRAM, PC, and laptop markets to deter unfair practices. Officials point to a sharp rise in computer prices, with the consumer price index climbing from 4.3% in October 2025 to 12.4% in March 2026, raising concerns over widening digital inequality, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

Alongside market oversight, the government plans expanded subsidies for low-income students to access laptops and PCs. Authorities aim to ensure at least one device per student across elementary and secondary education, building on 4.4 million units already distributed by the end of 2025.

Efforts are also being stepped up to recycle surplus public-sector computers. A government official said, "It is estimated that approximately 80,000 PCs exceed their useful life annually, of which about 22,000 are discarded." Officials estimate that around half of decommissioned devices could be refurbished for basic administrative use.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon said, "In the AI and digital era, the right to access data is linked to the fundamental rights necessary for the people to lead their daily lives."

The plan further includes reforms to mobile network policies, ensuring minimum internet access even after data limits are reached, at speeds of around 400 Kbps—expected to benefit over 7 million users, particularly older citizens.

By Sabina Mammadli