Choi Tae‑won pushes for worldwide build‑out of new semiconductor fabs

At the 49th Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Jeju Forum, SK Group chairman Choi Tae‑won said the company is scouting locations worldwide – including the United States – for additional semiconductor factories. He warned that next‑year AI‑driven memory demand could rise by 60‑100 % and that current supply gaps risk turning chips into a national security issue. Choi criticised the existing performance‑bonus scheme at SK Hynix, saying it must not harm stakeholder happiness, and called for reforms. He described current chip prices as “abnormally high” and urged rapid capacity expansion to avoid a “chip‑inflation” scenario. The chairman also highlighted the need for strong government and local‑authority support for infrastructure such as power and water to enable fast construction. Overall, he framed semiconductor fab expansion as essential to maintain South Korea’s competitive edge and to meet growing global AI demand.