SK's Chey vows to build Gwangju chip plants as fast as possible, no start date set (updated)

SK hynix

09/10/2026 08:09

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won visits site of a new semiconductor hub in Gwangju
Says even bringing forward Yongin chip project by 12 years not sufficient as chip demand grows
Gwangju project planned to be about two-thirds the size of Yongin, but could grow
If conditions right, SK may break ground in Gwangju even before power, water ready, Chey says
Recasts, adds Chey quotes, background throughout
SEOUL, Oct 9 (Reuters) - SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won said on Friday that chipmaker SK Hynix 000660.KS plans to build plants in southwestern South Korea as fast as possible, betting on robust demand growth, while declining to say when construction will begin. 
"We estimate demand will keep growing at a considerably fast pace," Chey told reporters during a visit to the planned site of a new semiconductor hub in Gwangju. 
He said SK had already brought forward the timeline for another chip complex in Yongin by 12 years, but even this was not sufficient.
"If necessary, it seems we may have to build in parallel," he said.
SK Hynix has set a goal of bringing forward the completion of its Yongin Semiconductor Cluster to 2033 from the originally planned 2045, when it aims to complete four fabrication plants.
Chey said the start date of the Gwangju cluster would depend on aligning the government's water and power plans with SK's construction schedule, but added the company is looking to start construction as soon as possible. 
"Even if water and power come later, as long as we can complete the piling quickly, I think we will go in first," he said, referring to the construction process, adding that the company was not seeking to reduce construction costs.
"I can't give an answer today on when that will be, because we need to study it more, but what I am saying is that we will go as fast as possible," he said, adding that a timeline would probably be announced soon. 
He said SK's current plan for Gwangju was for it to be about two-thirds the size of Yongin. If more land became available and  demand warranted it, he expected the project could expand further. 
Samsung Electronics 005930.KS and SK Hynix each plan to invest about 400 trillion won ($298.15 billion) to build two chip fabs apiece in the Gwangju chip cluster, which will span an area of about 8.26 million square metres on the site of  Gwangju's military airport, which is due to be relocated, and a neighbouring ammunition depot. 
The government and local authorities are working to provide infrastructure, including power and water. 
($1 = 1,341.5900 won)

 (Reporting by Joyce Lee and Hyunjoo Jin
Editing by Ed Davies)
 ((ed.davies@thomsonreuters.com))