SEOUL, March 31 (Reuters) - South Korea has sufficient

helium stocks until at least June, two sources said, while the

industry minister ruled out any first-half supply disruptions,

allaying worries over the Iran war's impact on supplies of the

gas crucial for chipmaking.

Prices of helium, a by-product of natural gas processing,

have risen sharply after the U.S.-Israel war on Iran disrupted

such operations in Qatar, the world's largest supplier of

liquified natural gas (LNG).

But South Korea, home to some of the world's largest

chipmakers, including Samsung Electronics ( SSNLF ) and SK

Hynix, has enough helium inventory to ride out the

first half, a government official told Reuters.

The companies are also paying premiums to secure inventory,

mainly from top producer the United States, he said, adding,

"Price aside, securing the stock right now is the top priority."

The government official and the second source, employed by

a helium supplier, declined to be identified as they were not

permitted to speak to the media.

Both Samsung and SK declined to comment.

Disruptions in helium supply were unlikely during the first

half, Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan told President Lee Jae

Myung during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, but did not

elaborate.

Samsung Electronics ( SSNLF ) and SK Hynix, which supplies roughly

two-thirds of the world's memory chips, have four to six months

worth of helium inventory, the second source, at a supplier of

helium to Samsung, told Reuters.

The supplier sources helium from both the United States and

Qatar, cushioning the impact of disruption in the latter, he

added.

Qatar, which produces nearly a third ​of world supply, ranks

second after the United States. Iranian attacks on the Gulf

state's gas facilities have forced QatarEnergy to declare force

majeure to customers.

Last week Taiwan, another key chipmaking base, said its

helium supplies were stable. However, some companies in the chip

making supply chain have said some impact was starting to be

felt on production.

Helium and bromine were among the key semiconductor

manufacturing materials at risk of supply disruptions from a

prolonged Iran conflict, Samsung and business groups told

lawmakers this month, besides higher energy costs.

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won also blamed ​Middle East

tension for costlier energy that pushed the group to seek out

other energy sources.