▲ SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won speaks during an interview after attending the Nikkei Forum's "Korea-Japan Special Session."
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won stated that the rapid surge in semiconductor demand has accelerated planning for after the construction of SK Hynix's Yongin semiconductor cluster, and that the company is considering various locations, keeping possibilities open both domestically and overseas.
Speaking to reporters today (June 10) after attending a panel discussion at the Nikkei Forum's "Korea-Japan Special Session" at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, Japan, Chey responded to a question about the location of the next semiconductor plant after the completion of the fourth phase of the Yongin cluster, saying, "As semiconductor demand continues to grow, we cannot avoid expanding somewhere, and preparing for this is approaching us as homework."
Regarding the possibility of SK Hynix expanding its plants overseas, Chey said, "If it is not feasible in Korea, isn't it a situation where we have to consider overseas?" He added, "It might not be a matter of 'we must build only in Korea.' The market could react completely differently afterward."
He went on to say, "If we are to go somewhere, we need a massive amount of infrastructure," adding, "Power, land, people, and water must all be in place."
Chey's remarks are drawing attention as they coincide with recent reports that political circles and others are reviewing plans for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to expand new semiconductor facility investments into the Honam and Chungcheong regions.
This comes amid observations that ways for the semiconductor industry to play a role in balanced regional development are being explored, with President Lee Jae-myung recently announcing at a press conference marking his first anniversary in office that he will soon unveil a large-scale investment project to achieve a major shift in growth strategy.
However, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have drawn a line regarding discussions with the government, saying they "know nothing about it," and stating that "nothing has been decided" regarding the possibility of investing in regional provinces.
Chey also hinted that a multi-faceted review regarding the semiconductor plant location is underway, saying, "If we believe that customers or other countries will provide us with significant benefits, we can also make demands. How we move in response to those demands is also a matter of our capability. There is also a need to ensure the minimum satisfaction of stakeholders."
Chey said, "We will make a decision on where and how to build by taking everything into comprehensive consideration. For now, we are focusing on building the Yongin cluster."
Regarding cooperation with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who recently visited South Korea, Chey said, "I believe the scope of our cooperation will continue to develop in the future." He added, "Jensen Huang and I agreed that a greater ecosystem is needed for artificial intelligence to continue growing, and that Nvidia's leadership alone is not enough, requiring more collaboration."
Chey also mentioned, regarding demands for the distribution of excess semiconductor profits, "Our management objective is to 'make stakeholders happy,' and stakeholders naturally include shareholders, our members, business partners, and, in a broader sense, the entire nation."
Chey said, "The methodology of how to share happiness can differ," adding, "Paying a lot of taxes or creating more investments and jobs is also important. If unavoidable rules are set, it is necessary to follow and apply them well."
Chey remarked, "If other problems or side effects occur in the future, we must continue to find new ways to resolve those issues socially," sharing his thoughts on the introduction of new systems such as the distribution of excess profits.
Chey, who has been emphasizing the importance of Korea-Japan economic cooperation, proposed building a "big tent" to gather cooperation agendas during a panel discussion at the Nikkei Forum the previous day, saying that if South Korea and Japan actively join hands in sectors such as semiconductors, AI, and energy, they can leap forward as "rule makers" in the new international order.
Chey shared that the Korean business community, including SK Group, is making or seeking investments in Japan through Japanese investment funds, while Japan is also investing in Korean companies and ventures. He emphasized, "An environment where the market is more integrated and operates as one is important."
(Photo courtesy of SK Group, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.