SK Hynix Announces $38.1 Billion Investment for Two New Memory Chip Plants

Key facts

• On August 7, 2026, SK Hynix announced an investment of 54 trillion Korean won ($38.1 billion) to build two new memory chip manufacturing plants.
• The investment includes 35.2 trillion won for the Yongin 'Y2' fab and 19.1 trillion won for the Cheongju 'M17' fab.
• The Yongin Y2 facility will produce DRAM, including high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and next-generation DRAM products.
• The Cheongju M17 facility will produce NAND memory, for which demand is surging rapidly.
• SK Hynix will break ground on Yongin Y2 in July 2027, with its first cleanroom opening in June 2029.
• SK Hynix will break ground on Cheongju M17 in February 2027, with its first cleanroom opening in December 2028.
• Memory prices have surged due to short supply and huge demand from AI infrastructure builders such as data centers and Nvidia.
• Counterpoint Research said Samsung reclaimed the number one spot in DRAM market share in the second quarter, prompting SK Hynix's fresh capital expenditure.