Intel therefore cheered the rise of Korean DRAM producers. It was one of several Silicon Valley firms to sign a joint venture with Samsung in the 1980s, selling chips Samsung manufactured under Intel’s own brand and wagering that helping Korea’s chip industry would reduce Japan’s threat to Silicon Valley. Moreover, Korea’s costs and wages were substantially lower than Japan’s, so Korean firms like Samsung had a shot at winning market share even if their manufacturing processes weren’t as perfectly tuned as the ultra-efficient Japanese.
