Seoul: South Korea's semiconductor technology trailed behind that of China in all key areas as of last year, marking a shift from previous assessments, a survey showed Sunday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the survey of 39 local experts conducted by the Korea Institute of S and T Evaluation and Planning revealed that South Korea ranked second in high-intensity and resistance-based memory technology. South Korea scored 90.9 percent compared with China's 94.1 percent, with the world's top technology level set at a benchmark of 100 percent.

In the field of high-performance and low-power artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors, South Korea received a score of 84.1 percent, lagging behind China's 88.3 percent, the survey showed. These findings mark a reversal from a similar survey conducted in 2022, when South Korea was assessed to be ahead of China in semiconductor technology.

The report highlighted growing uncertainties in the local semiconductor industry, citing the rise of Japan and China, potential trade sanctions under the new U.S. administration, and intensifying competition from Southeast Asian countries. To maintain the country's competitive edge, the report stressed the need to secure advanced semiconductor manufacturing technologies, foster high-caliber talent, and prevent the outflow of skilled professionals.