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SK Hynix Inc.

Native name	에스케이하이닉스 주식회사
Formerly	Hyundai Electronics (1983-2001) Hynix (2001–2012)
Company type	Public
Traded as	KRX: 000660
Industry	Semiconductor
Founded	15 October 1949; 75 years ago (1949-10-15) (legal) 26 February 1983; 41 years ago (1983-02-26) (actual)
Founder	Chung Ju-yung
Headquarters	Icheon, South Korea
Products	DRAM, NAND flash
Revenue	₩32.77 trillion (2023)
Operating income	−₩7.73 trillion (2023)
Net income	−₩9.14 trillion (2023)
Total assets	₩100.33 trillion (2023)
Total equity	₩53.50 trillion (2023)
Parent	SK Group (2003-Current) Hyundai Group (1983-2003)
Website	skhynix.com
Footnotes / references

SK Hynix Inc. (Korean: 에스케이하이닉스 주식회사) is a South Korean supplier of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chips and flash memory chips. SK Hynix is one of the world's largest semiconductor vendors.

Founded as Hyundai Electronics in 1983, SK Hynix was integrated into the SK Group in 2012 following a series of mergers, acquisitions, and restructuring efforts. After being incorporated into the SK Group, SK Hynix became a major affiliate alongside SK Innovation and SK Telecom.

The company's major customers include Microsoft, Apple, Asus, Dell, MSI, HP Inc., and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (formerly Hewlett-Packard). Other products that use Hynix memory include DVD players, cellular phones, set-top boxes, personal digital assistants, networking equipment, and hard disk drives.

History

Beginning

Hyundai Electronics

Hyundai Electronics was founded in 1983 by Chung Ju-yung, the founder of Hyundai Group. In the early 1980s, Chung recognized the growing importance of electronics in the automobile industry, one of Hyundai's primary business areas. He saw the potential for Hyundai to expand beyond its core operations in automobiles, shipbuilding, and heavy industries and wanted to establish a presence in the promising electronics industry. The company's primary focus was on semiconductor production and industrial electronics.

Hyundai had to pay a very high entry price to set up an efficient production system and to stabilize the yield rate compared to its rival Samsung, who at least had prior experience in semiconductor manufacturing. Hyundai's decision to produce SRAMs was later proven to be a mistake, as the technological sophistication of SRAMs made it difficult for Hyundai to achieve a satisfactory yield rate. In 1985, Hyundai altered its strategy for DRAM manufacturing by subcontracting from foreign firms and importing their chip designs, as it had lost time developing its own chips. Hyundai's DRAM chip, produced by importing Vitelic Corporation's design and technology, again failed in mass production due to a low yield rate.

Hyundai's approach to manufacturing memory chips as a foundry for foreign firms under OEM agreements was successful. The OEM agreements between General Instruments and Texas Instruments were helpful to Hyundai, which was facing technological and financial difficulties. By 1992, Hyundai had become the world's ninth DRAM manufacturer, and by 1995, it ranked among the world's top 20 semiconductor manufacturing companies. In 1996, Hyundai acquired Maxtor, a U.S.-based disk-drive manufacturer.

LG Semicon

GoldStar, which later became LG Electronics, entered the semiconductor business by acquiring a small company from Taihan Electric Wire in 1979. The company was subsequently renamed GoldStar Semiconductor. LG Semicon was established as Goldstar Electron in 1983 by merging the semiconductor operations of Goldstar Electronics and Goldstar Semiconductors. In 1990, Goldstar Electron commenced operations at Cheongju Plant I, followed by the completion of Cheongju Plant II in 1994. The company underwent a name change to LG Semicon in 1995. LG Semicon operated from three sites, including Seoul, Cheongju, and Gumi.

Merger

During the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the South Korean government initiated the restructuring of the nation's five major conglomerates, including their semiconductor businesses. Among five chaebols, Samsung, LG, and Hyundai were engaged in the semiconductor business. Samsung was exempt from the restructuring due to its competitive position in the global market. However, LG and Hyundai were pressured by the government to merge, as both companies faced significant losses during the semiconductor recession of early 1996. In 1998, Hyundai Electronics acquired LG Semicon for US$2.1 billion, positioning itself in direct competition with Micron Technology. Subsequently, LG Semicon was rebranded as Hyundai Semiconductor and later merged with Hyundai Electronics.

Hynix

Although the South Korean government aimed to merge the two companies to alleviate the supply glut in the global market, competition in the semiconductor industry had intensified. Hyundai faced near collapse during the chip industry's downturn in 2001, when global memory chip prices dropped by 80 percent, resulting in a 5 trillion won annual loss for the company. Creditor banks, many of them under government control at the time, intervened to provide assistance.

In 2001, Hyundai Electronics rebranded as Hynix Semiconductor, a portmanteau of "high" and "electronics". Alongside this change, Hynix began selling or spinning off business units to recover from a cash squeeze. Hynix separated several business units, including Hyundai Curitel, a mobile phone manufacturer; Hyundai SysComm, a CDMA mobile communication chip maker; Hyundai Autonet, a car navigation system producer; ImageQuest, a flat panel display company; and its TFT-LCD unit, among others. The divestiture was part of a bailout plan requested by the major creditor, Korea Development Bank, to provide fresh funds to the insolvent semiconductor maker.

In 2003, Hyundai Group affiliates, including Hyundai Merchant Marine, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hyundai Elevator, and Chung Mong-hun, the chairman of Hyundai Asan, consented to forfeit their voting rights and sell their stakes in Hynix. Hynix was then formally spun-off from the Hyundai Group in August 2003.

SK Hynix

The Hynix creditors, including Korea Exchange Bank, Woori Bank, Shinhan Bank and Korea Finance Corporation, attempted to sell their stake in Hynix several times but failed. Korean companies such as Hyosung, Dongbu CNI, and former stakeholders, including Hyundai Heavy Industries and LG, were considered potential bidders but were either denied or withdrew from the bidding. In July 2011, SK Telecom, the nation's largest telecommunication company, and STX Group officially entered the bid. STX dropped its deal in September 2011, leaving SK Telecom as the sole bidder. In the end, SK acquired Hynix for US$3 billion in February 2012. As Hynix was incorporated into SK Group, its name was changed to SK Hynix.

In 2021, Hynix acquired Intel's NAND business for $9 billion, resulting in the establishment of Solidigm.

SK hynix, September 26, 2024, said it has begun mass production of 12-layer high bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, the first in the world.

Corporate governance

As of December 2023

Shareholder	Stake (%)	Flag
SK Square	20.07%
National Pension Service	7.90%

Operations

SK Hynix has production facilities in Icheon and Cheongju, South Korea, and in Wuxi, Chongqing and Dalian, China.

Products

Hynix produces a variety of semiconductor memories, including:

• Computing memory
• Consumer and network memory
• Graphics memory
• Mobile memory
• NAND flash memory
• CMOS image sensors
• Solid-state drives (SSDs)
• High Bandwidth Memory: SK Hynix supplies high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips that are used in AI. The company also supplies the HBM3E, a fifth-generation HBM, to Nvidia.

Logo

• 2001–2012
• 2012–present

See also

• List of semiconductor fabrication plants
• Semiconductor industry in South Korea

References

1. "Annual Report". englishdart.fss.or.kr. Financial Supervisory Service. 31 December 2023.
2. ^ Lee, Youkyung (26 July 2012). "SK Hynix sinks to loss on oversupply, weak demand". Seoul, South Korea. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
3. "Gartner Says Worldwide Semiconductor Revenue Grew 1.1% in 2022". Gartner. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
4. Seo, Jee-yeon (9 December 2014). "SK appoints young CEOs". The Korea Herald.
5. By Paul Briden, Know Your Mobile. "iPhone SE One Week Later: "Adoption Has Been Low"." 8 April 2016.
6. "Analysis of SK hynix". Dublin: Research and Markets. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
7. "The Korean system of innovation and the semiconductor industry:a governance perspective" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
8. ^ Kim, Dong-won (29 September 2023). Making a Semiconductor Superpower. CRC Press. ISBN 9781000936087.
9. "Maxtor Drives Hard". Forbes. 21 November 2001.
10. Pecht, Mike (24 July 2020). The Korean Electronics Industry. CRC Press. ISBN 9781000154023.
11. Robertson, Jack (24 September 1998). "Hyundai And LG Semicon To Merge Chip Ops". EE Times.
12. Journal, Hae Won ChoiStaff Reporter of The Wall Street (16 March 1999). "LG Semicon Sale Is Seen Helping LG Electronics". The Wall Street Journal.
13. "Hyundai And LG Semicon To Merge Chip Ops". EETimes. 24 September 1998.
14. Choe, Sang-Hun (2 September 2005). "Hynix has become a comeback darling". The New York Times. Seoul.
15. "Hyundai Electronics to Be Renamed Hynix". The New York Times. 9 March 2001.
16. Moon, So-young (23 October 2003). "Local buyouts burdened". Korea Joongang Daily.
17. Robertson, Jack (23 January 2022). "Hynix to sell holding in CDMA company for $44.7 million". EE Times.
18. LaPedus, Mark (13 October 2005). "Hynix profits up 115% in Q3". EE Times. San Jose.
19. "Hynix to sell shares in flat panel display company". EE Times. 5 February 2003.
20. LaPedus, Mark (25 May 2005). "BOE propels China into large-screen LCD market". EE Times. San Jose.
21. Jong, Sonu (29 August 2001). "Korea Development Bank Balks at New Funds for Hynix". The Chosun Ilbo.
22. Kim, Won-bae (5 January 2003). "Chung, Affiliates to Bow Out To Ease Separation of Hynix". Korea JoongAng Daily.
23. Rhee, So-Eui (31 July 2001). "Hynix Says Government Has Cleared Its Separation From Parent Hyundai". The Wall Street Journal. Seoul.
24. "UPDATE 1-Hynix stake up for sale in auction again in Dec". Reuters. 25 November 2009. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
25. Park, Ju-Min (21 June 2011). "S.Korea's Hynix shareholders in 3rd attempt to find buyer". Reuters. Seoul.
26. Lee, Se Young; Lee, Jung-Ah (21 June 2011). "Hynix Creditors Launch Third Attempt at Stake Sale". The Wall Street Journal. Seoul.
27. Park, Ju-Min; Kim, Miyoung (7 July 2011). "STX says may bid for Hynix as Hyundai Heavy drops out". Reuters.
28. Kim, Da-ye (10 July 2011). "SK, STX bet on Hynix for future growth". The Korea Times.
29. Park, Ju-Min (11 November 2011). "SK Telecom picked for $3 bln Hynix deal". Reuters. Seoul.
30. Lee, Jung-Ah (14 November 2011). "SK Telecom to Buy Hynix Stake for $3.04 Billion". The Wall Street Journal. Seoul.
31. "Hynix names Chey as co-CEO as SK completes $3 billion deal". Reuters. Seoul. 14 February 2012.
32. Clarke, Peter (23 March 2012). "Hynix name change reflects SK investment". EE Times. London.
33. "South Korea's SK Hynix to buy Intel's NAND business for $9 billion". uk.reuters.com. 20 October 2020. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
34. Anderson, Mark (24 May 2022). "Intel spinoff Solidigm to open Rancho Cordova R&D office, lab". American City Business Journals.
35. Joseph F. Kovar (24 January 2022). "Solidigm CEO: Spinning Out of Intel To SK Hynix 'Gives Us The Greater Scale We Need'". CRN.
36. "SK hynix starts mass production of world's first 12-layer HBM3E". Yonhap News. 2024.
37. Lee, Joyce (6 September 2022). "SK Hynix to invest $11 bln in new South Korea chip plant". Reuters.
38. "SK hynix vows to maintain competitive edge in AI memory chips over Samsung, Micron". The Korea Times. 27 March 2024.

External links

• Official website
• Business data for SK Hynix:
  • Bloomberg
  • Google
  • Reuters
  • Yahoo!

v t e SK
Ownership	SK Inc. Chey Tae-won
Subsidiaries	Current SK Hynix SK Inc. C&C SK Innovation SK Telecom SK Broadband SK Communications Nate SK Shieldus SK Planet Dreamus Former and defunct Loen Entertainment SK Wyverns
Sports	Jeju United Seoul SK Knights T1 SK Sugar Gliders
Category Commons

v t e Hyundai
Subsidiaries	Current Hyundai Asan Hyundai Elevator Former and defunct Hynix Hyundai Logistics Hyundai Merchant Marine Hyundai Securities Hyundai Unicorns
Successors	Halla Group HD Hyundai Group HDC Group Hyundai Corporation Group Hyundai Department Store Group Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Group Hyundai Motor Group Hyundai Sungwoo Group KCC Group
People	Chung Ju-yung Chung Mong-koo Chung Mong-hun Chung Mong-joon Chung Mong-won Chung Mong-gyu Chung Eui-sun
Category Commons

v t e KOSPI 200 companies of South Korea

Amorepacific Amorepacific Group Asiana Airlines BGF Retail BNK Financial Celltrion Cheil Worldwide Chong Kun Dang CJ CJ CheilJedang CJ Logistics Cosmax Cosmo Chemical Coway CS Wind Daesang Daewoo E&C Daewoong Daewoong Pharmaceutical DB HiTek DB Insurance Dentium DGB Financial DL DL E&C Dongsuh Dongwon Systems Doosan Doosan Bobcat Doosan Enerbility Doosan Fuel Cell DoubleU Games Ecopro Materials Emart F&F Fila Foosung Grand Korea Leisure Green Cross Green Cross Holdings GS GS E&C GS Retail Hana Financial Hana Tour Hanall Biopharma Hanil Cement Hanjin KAL Hankook & Company Hankook Hanmi Pharm Hanmi Science Hanon Systems Hansae Hansol Chemical Hanssem Hanwha Hanwha Aerospace Hanwha Life Hanwha Ocean Hanwha Solutions Hanwha Systems HD Hyundai HD Hyundai Electric HD Hyundai Heavy HD Hyundai Infracore HD Hyundai Mipo HD KSOE HiteJinro HL Mando HMM Hotel Shilla Hybe Hyosung Hyosung Advanced Materials Hyosung TNC Hyundai Department Store Hyundai Elevator Hyundai E&C Hyundai Glovis Hyundai Marine & Fire Hyundai Mobis Hyundai Motor Hyundai Rotem Hyundai Steel Hyundai WIA Iljin Hysolus Industrial Bank of Korea IS Dongseo JB Financial Group Kakao KakaoBank KakaoPay Kangwon Land KB Financial KCC KEPCO KEPCO E&C KEPCO KPS KG Mobility KG Steel Kia Kiwoom Securities Kolmar Korea Kolon Korea Aerospace Korea Gas Korea Investment Korea Petrochemical Korea Zinc Korean Air Krafton KT KT&G Kumho Petrochemical Kumho Tire Kumyang LG LG Chem LG Display LG Electronics LG Energy Solution LG H&H LG Innotek LG Uplus LIG Nex1 Lotte Lotte Chemical Lotte Chilsung Lotte Fine Chemical Lotte Energy Materials Lotte Shopping Lotte Tour Development Lotte Wellfood LS LS Electric LX International Meritz Financial Mirae Asset Securities Myoungshin Naver NCSoft Netmarble NH Investment & Securities Nongshim OCI Orion Orion Holdings Ottogi Pan Ocean PI Advanced Materials Poongsan POSCO POSCO Future M POSCO International S-1 Corporation Sama Aluminium Samsung Biologics Samsung C&T Samsung Card Samsung Electro-Mechanics Samsung Electronics Samsung Engineering Samsung Fire & Marine Samsung Heavy Samsung Life Samsung SDI Samsung SDS Samsung Securities Samyang Foods SD Biosensor Seah Besteel Sebang Shinhan Financial Shinpoong Shinsegae Shinsegae International SK SK Biopharm SK Bioscience SK Chemical SK Hynix SK IE Technology SK Innovation SK Networks SK Square SK Telecom SKC SL S-Oil Ssangyong C&E Taihan TCC Steel TKG Huchems Woori Financial Youlchon Chemical Young Poong Youngone Youngone Holdings Yuhan

• SK Hynix
• Companies listed on the Korea Exchange
• Companies in the KOSPI 200
• Companies in the S&P Asia 50
• Computer companies of South Korea
• Computer hardware companies
• Computer memory companies
• Electronics companies established in 1983
• Electronics companies of South Korea
• Hyundai Group
• Price fixing convictions
• Semiconductor companies of South Korea
• SK Group subsidiaries
• South Korean brands
• South Korean companies established in 1983
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