SK Group Chief Says He Is Considering Building a Chip Plant in Japan

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won has confirmed that the company is considering a semiconductor plant in Japan, giving greater weight to earlier reports of a possible investment in Miyagi Prefecture.

Chey told Bloomberg in Sendai on Aug. 31 that he would announce the plan after completing the review. Bloomberg quoted him as saying SK was looking across Japan and would consider any location with abundant electricity and water.

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I will announce it once we complete the review.

SK Hynix President and Chief Executive Kwak Noh-jung also said on Aug. 27 that the company wanted to contribute to Japan’s semiconductor industry, as it contributes to the artificial intelligence industry in the United States. Chey had previously described Japan as a strong candidate because it is a semiconductor-producing country with the electricity, materials and other parts of the needed ecosystem.

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We are looking across Japan. Anywhere with abundant electricity and water is under consideration.

Hankyoreh previously reported that SK Hynix was pursuing a plan to build a memory-chip fabrication plant in northeastern Miyagi, potentially involving tens of trillions of won. The company later disclosed that it was reviewing various options, including additional production bases, but said nothing had been finalized. Chey’s remarks confirmed that a local Japanese investment is under consideration.

If the plan becomes reality, SK Hynix would become the third foreign company after U.S.-based Micron and Taiwan’s TSMC to operate a semiconductor manufacturing plant in Japan. Samsung Electronics currently has a next-generation semiconductor packaging research center in Yokohama, rather than a manufacturing plant. Chey visited Miyagi as chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry for a meeting with Japanese business leaders.

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We want to contribute to Japan’s semiconductor industry, as we are contributing to the U.S. artificial intelligence industry.