Semiconductor industry emphasizes water security at Korea International Water Week

At the Korea International Water Week 2026 held in Daegu, major semiconductor companies including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix highlighted the critical role of water resources in the advancement of the semiconductor and AI industries.

SK hynix reported that it saved an average of 170,000 tons of water per day at its domestic sites last year, an amount equivalent to the daily usage of approximately 550,000 people. The company aims to achieve a cumulative water saving of 600 million tons by 2030. To support this, SK hynix has increased its water reuse volume by 54% over the last four years, reaching 73.59 million tons in 2023.

The discussions emphasized that securing stable supplies of ultrapure water and developing recycling technologies are essential for the competitiveness of semiconductor fabs. The Daegu-Gyeongbuk region is being positioned as a strategic hub due to its existing water industry infrastructure, such as the National Water Industry Cluster, which supports research, testing, and commercialization for high-tech water technologies.