[Edaily Reporter JAEMIN SONG ] SK hynix has announced a mid- to long-term investment plan totaling 1,100 trillion won to meet growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) memory. The strategy involves expanding its existing production bases in Yongin and Cheongju while establishing a new semiconductor cluster in the southwestern region to proactively secure AI memory production capacity.

On the 29th, SK hynix unveiled a mid- to long-term investment strategy totaling 1,100 trillion won through its Newsroom, centered on Yongin (600 trillion won), Cheongju (100 trillion won), and the southwestern region (400 trillion won).

The most significant change is the pace of investment in the Yongin semiconductor cluster. The company plans to complete construction of the fourth fab by 2033—12 years ahead of the original 2045 completion target for the Yongin cluster. It will then continue to invest a total of 600 trillion won by gradually deploying production facilities and equipment.

The Cheongju production base will also be developed into a hub for AI memory. The company will invest 100 trillion won in Cheongju to expand its NAND fab and production equipment, while also strengthening its capabilities in advanced packaging—the back-end process for HBM. The company’s policy is to develop Cheongju into a comprehensive production base encompassing NAND, HBM, and advanced packaging.

The company has selected the southwestern region as its new production hub. Considering the region’s potential for securing large tracts of land and building infrastructure such as power and water supply, SK hynix plans to invest a total of 400 trillion won in the southwestern region to create a new cluster focused on memory front-end processes. The specific location will be finalized following consultations with the government and local authorities.

The company explained that this investment is a strategic decision to address the surging demand for memory driven by the proliferation of AI data centers. In particular, it emphasized that securing sufficient production capacity in advance is a key competitive advantage, as HBM requires more wafers and production space than standard DRAM to produce the same capacity.

SK hynix forecasts that investment in AI data centers will expand approximately sevenfold, from $466 billion in 2025 to $3.379 trillion in 2030. The company believes that as investment in AI infrastructure drives increased memory demand, expanding supply will be inevitable.

The company explained that this 1,100 trillion won investment will not be executed all at once but will be carried out in phases, taking into account market demand and long-term supply contracts with customers. The company plans to secure investment funds based on cash flow generated through operating activities and to flexibly adjust the scale and timing of investments according to market conditions.

SK hynix stated, “This mid- to long-term investment strategy is a decision made to respond seamlessly to global AI memory demand,” adding, “We will expand our production bases beyond Yongin and Cheongju to the southwestern region to contribute to the development of the global AI ecosystem.”