[Special Stock] 'SK C&C Fire + KakaoTalk Outage' Stirring Up Kemtros

Over the past weekend, due to a fire at the SK C&C data center, major Kakao services including KakaoTalk were interrupted. On the 17th, recovery work is underway at the SK C&C data center in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.
Seongnam - Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] Following a fire at the SK C&C data center in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province last weekend, which is presumed to have caused disruptions to Kakao services, Kemtros, a developer of secondary battery electrolyte additives, showed a slight upward trend in the stock market on the 19th.

As of 10:02 AM that day, Kemtros recorded 8,880 KRW, up 3.02% from the previous day. This rise is analyzed to be due to an influx of investment funds expecting a ripple effect, as the fire last weekend is presumed to have started from a spark inside a lithium-ion battery and then spread into a large fire.

The company, established in 2006, specializes in the synthesis of fine chemical materials. It has commercialized materials applied in various industries such as secondary battery electrolyte additives, semiconductor process materials, and display materials.

The electrolyte additives developed and produced by Kemtros are products that ensure the mobility and stability of lithium ions. They secure charging capacity and flame retardancy, prevent overcharging, and improve lifespan and stability. As of the first quarter of this year, sales of secondary battery electrolyte additives account for 23% of the company's total sales, representing the largest share.

On October 5th last year, the company registered a patent for intellectual property rights on the "method for manufacturing lithium difluorobis(oxalato)phosphate 1,4-dioxane solvate additives that prevent fires caused by temperature rise during battery charging and discharging, and electrolyte compositions containing the same."