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Semiconductor boom feeds into spending; Icheon buys homes, Cheongju raises outlays

The semiconductor boom is beginning to translate into consumption through wages, the Bank of Korea said. After bonus payouts at Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, consumption in chip-exposed areas such as Icheon, Hwaseong and Cheongju was up to 4 percent higher than in non-exposed regions. The central bank said the spillover differs by region, with Icheon residents likely directing extra income to home purchases while Cheongju showed stronger spending.