SK Chairman Open Front-End Memory Fab to U.S.

Дата публикации: 14-08-2026 16:00:41

Amid worsening memory supply shortages driven by an explosion in artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor demand, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won has left open the possibility of constructing a front-end semiconductor fab (factory) in the United States. Identifying the demands of local U.S. clients

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Amid worsening memory supply shortages driven by an explosion in artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor demand, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won has left open the possibility of constructing a front-end semiconductor fab (factory) in the United States. Identifying the demands of local U.S. clients as a key variable, Chairman Chey is conducting a multifaceted review to expand the company’s global production bases.

In an interview with U.S. CNBC on Aug. 13 (local time), Chairman Chey stated that the company has been surveying memory factory sites in various regions, including the U.S., for over a month. Notably mentioning that U.S. customers want a fab constructed within their own country, he expressed a willingness to pursue such opportunities together if the customers desire it. Currently, SK hynix is building a back-end packaging fab in Indiana, U.S., but specific plans for a front-end fab that processes wafers had not been formalized.

Chairman Chey defined the current market situation as a kind of ‘war’ to secure memory chips. His analysis is that while all customers are requesting their volume for next year to be increased by nearly two times compared to previous levels, supply is failing to keep pace. Chairman Chey diagnosed that next year will be the year when the memory shortage phenomenon becomes most severe, causing ‘Chiplation,’ a situation where semiconductor prices skyrocket.

To resolve the supply bottleneck phenomenon, SK Group has decided on a large-scale expansion to increase its memory production capacity by 2 times within the next 5 years. This is the reason it has set out to secure additional sites following its recent announcement to construct 2 new front-end fabs in the Honam region. However, Chairman Chey emphasized that securing water, power, and land, as well as creating a semiconductor ecosystem, are core prerequisites for fab construction, showing a cautious stance in finding a suitable location.

Regarding concerns about oversupply due to large-scale facility investments, he presented a thorough demand-based strategy. The explanation is that expansions are pursued only under conditions where certain demand exists, and uncertainties are being eliminated by signing long-term supply contracts (LTA) with customers. Furthermore, he added that various programs capable of sharing risks are being introduced, such as establishing a joint venture or providing memory in the form of a service, known as ‘Memory as a Service.’

Chairman Chey forecasted that the memory cycle in the AI era will exhibit a different pattern from the past. This is because while it relied on the number of hardware devices distributed in the past, market scalability has now grown, with a single user utilizing multiple AI agents. Chairman Chey emphasized that due to these changes, a much longer boom cycle than in the past will continue, and a strong upward trend in demand will persist for the time being.

Although no direct dialogue with the U.S. government has taken place at present, major figures such as the Secretary of Commerce are pressuring South Korean companies to establish new front-end fabs in the U.S. SK hynix plans to closely examine future market demand and cooperative relationships with client companies to finalize additional investment regions.

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