SK Group chairman Choi Tae-won (チェ・テウォン) of South Korea said the group is considering establishing a semiconductor joint-venture plant in Japan. The move would address growing AI demand while reducing production costs.
SK Group chairman Choi Tae-won (チェ・テウォン) of South Korea disclosed that the group is considering establishing a semiconductor joint-venture plant in Japan. He made the remarks while visiting Japan to attend the Japan-Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Presidents' Meeting, explaining that the group is considering the project's feasibility. Choi said the entire country is under consideration and that any location with abundant electricity and water could be a candidate, but declined to specify the joint-venture partner, the plant's location or the products to be manufactured.
Overseas media and industry sources have suggested that the move is intended to strengthen the group's network with major Japanese customers and partner companies. SK hynix is said to have partner companies such as Tokyo Electron and NAMICS, while customer facilities operated by Sony and Nintendo are also located in Japan. The possibility of future acquisitions of small and medium-sized companies and joint investments has also been raised.
Meanwhile, SK hynix is investing 54 trillion won to expand production at sites including the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster in South Korea. The company is also expanding its global footprint, including holding a groundbreaking ceremony on the 27th for an advanced packaging plant for next-generation HBM in Indiana, the United States. In this context, the move in Japan is viewed as part of efforts to strengthen relationships with customers and business partners.