SK hynix is moving to support semiconductor materials, parts and equipment suppliers with the government and the financial sector. SK hynix said it held a signing ceremony for an “export supply chain reinforcement guarantee” and a presentation ceremony for the first guarantee certificate at the Yongin cluster promotion center in Gyeonggi province on Oct. 19. The event was attended by SK hynix CEO Kwak Noh-jung (곽노정), Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Kim Jeong-kwan (김정관), Korea Trade Insurance Corp, four major commercial banks including KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Woori and Hana, and supplier representatives.

The export supply chain reinforcement guarantee is a joint financial programme for small and mid-sized materials, parts and equipment companies that have found it difficult to raise funds due to high interest rates and a global economic slowdown. SK hynix and commercial banks contribute funding, while Korea Trade Insurance Corp provides guarantees. The total support 규모 under the structure is 2 trillion won.

Eligible suppliers will receive expanded loan limits and preferential interest rates. The company said the burden of guarantee fees incurred during the loan process will also be reduced. The ceremony included the presentation of the first guarantee certificate to an eligible supplier.

Ahead of the ceremony, participants inspected the construction site for the Yongin cluster’s first fab plot and the progress site for the “Trinity Fab.” The Trinity Fab is a production-linked fab being built inside the first fab with a joint investment of 870 billion won by the government, local governments and SK hynix. Small materials, parts and equipment firms have struggled to commercialise their technologies because it has been difficult to test new technologies and products they develop in actual semiconductor production environments. The Trinity Fab provides an environment to verify in advance whether such products can be used in mass-production processes, supporting technology self-reliance and shortening the timeline for localisation.

In a subsequent meeting, supplier executives delivered on-site requests for stabilising supply chains and achieving technology self-reliance. Participants agreed to strengthen a win-win ecosystem between large companies and small and mid-sized firms.

SK hynix CEO Kwak said, “To secure the global competitiveness of South Korea’s semiconductor industry at the national level and further strengthen the status of ‘K-semiconductors,’ building a solid materials, parts and equipment ecosystem is essential.” He said, “Based on support from this export supply chain fund and the creation of a one-stop technology verification environment through the Trinity Fab, we will join forces with our partners to further solidify technology leadership in the global semiconductor market.”