SK Hynix plans memory chip factory in Miyagi

SK Hynix is reportedly evaluating a memory fab in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, with investment scales potentially in the tens of trillions of won, which would mark its first large-scale semiconductor manufacturing in Japan. The plan is tied to SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won’s recent visit to Miyagi and aligns with Japan’s effort to develop regional semiconductor hubs, though SK Hynix has emphasized that no site or decision has been finalized. If realized, the Miyagi project would make SK Hynix the third foreign company to operate a manufacturing plant in Japan, and it would complement ongoing domestic capacity expansions in Yongin and Honam, while potentially preempting supply constraints amid a global memory shortage. The reports also note the move could face U.S. pressure to bolster memory production in the United States and may encounter political or public opposition, reflecting broader strategic and regulatory considerations. In related strategic shifts, SK Hynix is reviewing its Chongqing packaging plant in China for a possible sale as it pivots toward AI-focused memory infrastructure, signaling a broader realignment of asset footprints alongside global demand dynamics. The company has issued cautious statements about site selection, underscoring that plans remain under review rather than decided.