South Korea's Ministry of Finance announced on Thursday that, in response to increasing semiconductor prices, the country will strengthen the reuse of previously used computers from public institutions and expand support programs for vulnerable groups.

The measures are part of a broader set of responses announced during a ministerial meeting, aimed at stabilizing consumer prices, as global prices for dynamic random-access memory (DRAM)—widely used in desktops and laptops—have risen significantly.

Currently, the South Korean government disposes of outdated computers through sale, donation, or scrapping. Last year, out of 22,000 computers processed, more than half were scrapped, even though many could still be used for basic purposes after repair or maintenance.

The government plans to increase the proportion of equipment donated for free, promote device reuse, and enable local governments to more actively use these devices in programs supporting disadvantaged groups.

Additionally, through a supplementary budget expected to pass later this month, the government will expand a subsidy program for personal computer purchases aimed at students from low-income households.

The Ministry of Finance predicts that, amid the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductor manufacturers are shifting focus to producing high-bandwidth memory (HBM), and prices of traditional DRAM chips are expected to continue rising in the near future.

Industry data show that over the past seven months, prices of desktops and laptops from major manufacturers have increased by more than 10%.

According to the data, consumer prices for computers in South Korea rose 10.8% year-on-year in February and 12.4% year-on-year in March.