SK hynix will build new fabs in Yongin and Cheongju to respond to memory demand.

SK hynix announced on the 7th that, following a resolution by its board of directors, it has decided to invest about KRW 54 trillion in the construction of the Yongin “Y2” and Cheongju “M17” fabs, with KRW 35.2 trillion and KRW 19.1 trillion allocated respectively.

This decision is part of the phased implementation of the mid- to long-term investment strategy SK hynix unveiled in June. Under the plan to invest KRW 600 trillion in the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster and KRW 100 trillion in expanding its Cheongju production base, the company is currently building the first Yongin fab (Y1).

Yongin Y2 is the second of a total of four fabs the company will sequentially establish in the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, and will be developed as a DRAM production hub with a total floor area of 341,000 pyeong. Groundbreaking is scheduled for July next year, with the first cleanroom to open in June 2029, and it will produce next-generation DRAM including HBM. Construction of Y1 is underway with the goal of opening its first cleanroom in February next year.

SK hynix aims to complete construction of all four fabs in the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster by 2033, moving up the original completion target of 2045 by 12 years. The cluster, which is being developed over approximately 1.26 million pyeong in Wonsam-myeon, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, is nearing completion of the first-stage power and water infrastructure needed for Y2 operations, with 99% of the work progress achieved.

In addition, SK hynix chose Cheongju as its new NAND production base because it is the location where a fab can be built the fastest. The Cheongju Campus already houses M11, M12, and M15, which produce NAND, enabling efficient production in connection with existing fabs. Much of the land, power, and water infrastructure is also already in place.

Cheongju M17 will be built with a total floor area of 206,000 pyeong, with construction set to begin in February next year and the first cleanroom scheduled to open in December 2028. The investment period runs until April 2031, with funds to be executed in stages in line with the business schedule.

SK hynix expects that this investment will both secure a foundation for future growth and enhance the competitiveness of the domestic semiconductor ecosystem, while revitalizing regional economies. By carrying out large-scale investments simultaneously in Yongin and Cheongju, the company plans to expand opportunities for joint growth with partners, promote job creation and revitalize local commercial districts, thereby contributing to the sustainable growth of the national economy.

An SK hynix official said, “This investment is a decision to ensure that we do not miss the opportunities in line with the market’s growth pace,” adding, “By preemptively securing production capacity, we will establish ourselves as a key partner in AI infrastructure that contributes to stabilizing the global AI semiconductor supply chain.”

Meanwhile, the government is accelerating its “three mega projects,” centered on semiconductors, physical AI, and AI data centers. In line with this, the completion schedule for the national industrial complex being promoted by Samsung Electronics is also planned to be moved up from 2047 to 2040.

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