SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won (崔泰源) reportedly described joint production with Kioxia as a possible option and suggested that plans to build a plant in Japan could be finalized within the year.
Choi Tae-won (崔泰源), chairman of South Korea's SK Group, described joint production with Japan's Kioxia Holdings as “one option” and also mentioned the possibility of jointly building a plant, in addition to conducting joint research and development and sharing supply chains. Following a report by The Asahi Shimbun, he said that ending the investment was also an option if further cooperation proved difficult.
The chairman identified Japan as a leading candidate for an overseas production base and indicated that an investment policy could be announced as early as this year. SK Group denied, following a Bloomberg report, that it was considering establishing a joint venture plant in Japan, but reiterated its intention to explore cooperation in the country.
Kioxia, which originated from Toshiba's semiconductor division, is an investment target in the NAND flash market. An SPC holds approximately 14% of Kioxia's shares, and if the convertible bonds are converted into shares, it could secure a majority of the voting rights, although the review requires approval from the relevant authorities.
In terms of market trends, Samsung Electronics led April–June NAND shipment volume shares at 25%, followed by SK hynix at 22% and Kioxia at 14%. If joint production is realized, it could affect the competitive landscape of the global market.