SK Hynix is ramping up preparations for its first semiconductor fabrication plant in the Yongin Cluster. (Image courtesy of Yongin City)
SEOUL, Feb. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — SK Hynix is ramping up preparations for its first semiconductor fabrication plant in the Yongin Cluster, moving forward with infrastructure recruitment to support its growing high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor production.
According to industry sources, SK Hynix has posted job openings on its recruitment website for experienced professionals specializing in semiconductor construction projects. Applications are open until February 24, with a preference for candidates with experience in semiconductor fab and large-scale cleanroom construction.
The company is hiring across multiple disciplines, including construction (plant architecture, facilities, electrical, mechanical, and piping), project management, and safety management. Selected employees may work on projects in Icheon, Cheongju, and Yongin, but with the first Yongin fab set to break ground next month, most hires are expected to be stationed there.
SK Hynix previously announced plans to construct four cutting-edge fabs in Yongin, collaborating with over 50 domestic and international materials, components, and equipment firms to establish a semiconductor cooperation hub. In July 2024, the company’s board approved a KRW 9.4 trillion ($6.48 billion) investment to build the first fab and associated facilities in the Yongin cluster.
The first fab is scheduled to begin construction in March 2025 and be completed by May 2027, focusing on the production of HBM and next-generation DRAM. The remaining three fabs will be developed sequentially.
Beyond Yongin, SK Hynix is also expanding its HBM production capacity to meet rising demand. The company is building the M15X production facility in Cheongju, slated for completion by the end of 2025. Internal staffing for the facility began in late 2024.
During its latest earnings call, SK Hynix confirmed, “M15X is currently under construction in Cheongju and is expected to open in Q4 2025. The first fab in the Yongin Cluster is also set to commence full-scale construction this year, targeting an opening in Q2 2027. We are proactively building mass-production infrastructure to commercialize next-generation technologies and products on schedule to maintain our market leadership.”
SK Hynix’s investments in advanced semiconductor production underscore its strategic push to solidify its position in the global AI chip industry amid surging demand for HBM and high-performance memory solutions.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
