[DigitalToday reporter Daegeon Seok] SK Hynix decided to introduce EUV equipment worth about 12 trillion won to support mass production of next-generation semiconductor processes. The company said on March 24 it would, through a board resolution, sign a purchase contract for EUV (extreme ultraviolet) scanners with ASML Korea Ltd.

The contract is valued at 6,913,400,000 euros, or 11.95 trillion won. That equals 9.97 percent of total assets on the consolidated financial statements as of Dec. 31, 2024, which stood at 119.86 trillion won. It applied Hana Bank's base exchange rate on March 23, the day before the decision, of 1,728.48 won per euro. Dda.

The planned acquisition date is Dec. 31, 2027, and the equipment will be introduced sequentially over a total of 2 years. The contract amount includes not only the EUV scanner body but also all new machinery needed for operation, such as installation and modification. Payment will be made in installments each time individual equipment is acquired.

The purpose of the acquisition is to support mass production of next-generation processes. EUV equipment has a shorter wavelength than existing argon fluoride (ArF) light sources and can implement finer circuit patterns, making it a key facility for advanced DRAM and NAND process transitions. The company said the contract is aimed at securing equipment in line with the next-generation process transition schedule.

ASML is a Dutch semiconductor equipment company that exclusively supplies EUV equipment, and in South Korea it provides sales and services through ASML Korea Ltd. The company added that the actual acquisition price may vary depending on exchange rate fluctuations.