Kwak Noh-jung (곽노정), CEO of SK Hynix, set a mid- to long-term financial goal of securing more than 100 trillion won in net cash. With net cash at about 12.7 trillion won as of the end of last year, the plan is to increase it by more than about eight times.

Kwak disclosed the target at the company’s 78th annual general meeting on March 25 at SK Hynix headquarters in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. He said memory demand would expand in the mid to long term as AI technology advances and investment in computing infrastructure increases. He said financial soundness is improving but remains insufficient compared with global top companies, and stressed it would secure top-tier global financial strength to lay a foundation for long-term growth.

Kwak said it would secure more than 100 trillion won in net cash to make long-term, strategic investments needed to ensure competitiveness in any environment.

He reaffirmed a policy of pursuing shareholder returns alongside large-scale investment. He said it carried out returns totalling about 14 trillion won based on 2025 results, including additional dividends and the cancellation of treasury shares. It paid an additional dividend of 1,500 won per share on top of an existing fixed dividend of 1,500 won per share, and cancelled 2.1 percent of treasury shares it held. Kwak said it plans to actively pursue additional shareholder return measures such as extra dividends and share buybacks if performance improves.

He also disclosed the schedule for listing American depositary receipts (ADRs) on the day. Kwak said it confidentially filed a registration statement for the ADR listing on March 24 and is preparing for a listing in the second half of this year. The issuance size and method have not yet been decided.

He added it would pursue the move in a way that helps enhance shareholder value. On plans for a stock split raised in shareholder questions, he said it is not planning it for now and would review it carefully while watching growth and the share price trend.

He also reviewed the status of the HBM business. Kwak said HBM3E remains the main product, and with HBM4 shipments expected to increase in the second half, the overall HBM shipment target has seen little change. He said HBM4 established the world’s first mass production system in September last year and is proceeding smoothly in line with plans through customer sampling and optimisation, on the schedule and volume customers want. A next-generation product, HBM4E, is also under development with the goal of providing samples within this year.

SK Hynix also approved all agenda items at the meeting as originally proposed, including approval of financial statements, amendments to the articles of incorporation and the appointment of directors. It appointed Cha Sun-yong as an inside director and head of the Future Technology Research Institute. It appointed Ko Seung-beom, a former chairman of the Financial Services Commission, and Choi Kang-guk, an attorney at law firm Gaon, as new outside directors.