On Feb. 25, SK Hynix announced the groundbreaking of its first semiconductor production plant, or fab, within the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster in Gyeonggi Province. The company aims to establish a robust production base for next-generation DRAM memory, including high-bandwidth memory (HBM), to meet the rising demand for artificial intelligence (AI) memory semiconductors.

The full-scale construction of the first phase fab began a day earlier, following the expedited approval from Yongin City on Feb. 21. This swift approval was made possible by a "Business Agreement for Early Construction of Production Lines and Activation of the Local Construction Industry" signed between Yongin City and SK Hynix in April of last year. The agreement also led to the formation of a Building Permit Task Force to streamline the licensing process.

The Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, sprawling over 4.15 million square meters (approximately 1.26 million pyeong) in Wonsam-myeon, Yongin City, is set to house a total of four fabs, with the first phase targeted for completion in May 2027. This ambitious project is backed by a substantial investment of approximately 9.4 trillion won, as decided by SK Hynix's board in July last year.

Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, underscored the significance of the Yongin Cluster during his visit to the site in September 2023. He described it as "the most planned and strategically pursued project in SK Hynix's history," emphasizing the need for innovative challenges beyond previous endeavors.

In line with its strategic goals, SK Hynix is also constructing a "mini fab" within the first phase fab. This facility will be equipped with 300mm wafer processing equipment, providing a research environment for domestic vendors of parts, materials and equipment to develop, demonstrate, and evaluate new technologies. An SK Hynix representative highlighted the company's commitment to enhancing the competitiveness of Korea's semiconductor ecosystem, stating, "We plan to play a role in enhancing the competitiveness of the semiconductor ecosystem in Korea, together with over 50 vendors of parts, materials and equipment within the cluster."

The Yongin Cluster is part of SK Hynix's broader strategy to maintain its competitive edge in the global semiconductor market. By focusing on next-generation memory technologies and infrastructure development, the company aims to secure a foundation for mid- to long-term growth. This initiative is further supported by the ongoing construction of the M15X HBM production base in Cheongju, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

By: DocMemory
Copyright © 2023 CST, Inc. All Rights Reserved