SK hynix Chairman Choi Tae-won (崔泰源) said the company is considering the possibility of establishing a memory semiconductor plant in Japan. He did not identify a specific potential site, presenting investment in Japan as one option. The primary source is reportedly remarks made at a Japan-Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry summit.
Choi Tae-won (崔泰源), who attended the Japan-Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry summit in Sendai, told Bloomberg in an interview that the company was considering building a plant in Japan, saying, “We are looking across Japan. We are considering any location with abundant power and water.” He did not disclose any potential site or partner at this stage, and said that investment in Japan was one possibility, but that there were currently no plans to pursue a joint-venture plant.
In remarks made in his capacity as chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he also emphasized the importance of Japan-Korea economic cooperation. The remarks called for cooperation in AI, advanced industries, supply chains, energy and startups to be developed into concrete initiatives.
Local media in Miyagi Prefecture focused on the possibility of a plant being built there. Miyagi has secured more than 30 hectares of industrial land near Sendai, which is considered advantageous because of its abundant industrial water and electricity supplies and access to workers. The prefecture is stepping up efforts to attract semiconductor-related companies.
Online reaction in South Korea was mixed, with some people viewing the possibility of building a plant in Japan positively and others questioning it. The prospect of expanded semiconductor cooperation with Japan and broader Japan-Korea economic cooperation also became a topic of discussion.