SK Hynix is expected to use ultrapure water for semiconductors produced with domestic technology starting next year.
On the 13th, SK Hynix and the Korea Water Resources Corporation announced that they signed a "Basic Agreement on Operation and Management of Water Supply Facilities and Integrated Water Supply" at the Glad Hotel in Seoul on the 11th. The core content is to stably supply ultrapure water and industrial water to SK Hynix.
With this agreement, SK Hynix will receive ultrapure water produced with domestic technology from the Korea Water Resources Corporation starting next year. Ultrapure water refers to water that has had ions, impurities, and other substances removed so that only water molecules remain, making it the closest to theoretically pure water. It is essential for manufacturing semiconductor wafers and other products, but has been imported from abroad until now.
SK Siltron, a semiconductor wafer manufacturer, and the Korea Water Resources Corporation have been promoting the localization of ultrapure water since 2021 through a government research project. The Korea Water Resources Corporation expects the domestic and international semiconductor ultrapure water market to grow to about 9.5 trillion KRW by 2028.
Yoon Seok-dae, President of the Korea Water Resources Corporation, expressed hope that "localizing domestic ultrapure water technology will serve as an opportunity to strengthen the security of the semiconductor industry, a key national advanced industry."
Kwack No-jung, CEO of SK Hynix, said, "We have partnered with the Korea Water Resources Corporation to manage the water supply essential for semiconductor production," adding, "Through this agreement, we will strive to enhance global semiconductor competitiveness and contribute to the development of the domestic ultrapure water industry."
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