Kwack No-jeong, President of SK Hynix, "AI Development, Semiconductor Industry's Heavy Responsibility"

Reflections After SEMICON Korea Dinner Event
Lecture on "The Role of Semiconductors in the Global Economy"
"Korea Will Ride the AI Big Wave Well"

Kwack No-jung, CEO of SK Hynix and chairman of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association (KSIA), stated, "As AI (artificial intelligence) continues to advance, it is clear that our responsibilities have grown greater than ever."

On the afternoon of the 20th, Kwack said via social media, "Reflecting on the time spent at SEMICON Korea 2025, I was reminded of the heavy responsibilities we bear as an industry."

He participated in the 'SEMICON Korea 2025 Leadership Dinner' held on the afternoon of the 19th at the Grand InterContinental Parnas Hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, where he delivered a speech on the role and importance of semiconductors in the global economy and national security. The Leadership Dinner is held alongside SEMICON Korea 2025, the largest semiconductor exhibition in Korea, gathering over 500 global semiconductor leaders and executives to share industry insights.

Kwak No-jeong, President of SK Hynix, is taking a commemorative photo with Luke Van den Hove, Chairman of imec (first on the left), Dirk Welyartz, Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs (first on the right), and other officials at the 'Semicon Korea 2025 Leadership Dinner' held on the 19th at the Grand Intercontinental Parnas Hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kwak No-jeong, President of SK Hynix, LinkedIn

Kwack’s remarks are interpreted as emphasizing the need for the domestic semiconductor industry to respond more agilely as competition among companies around AI intensifies and the market expands. He explained, "As chairman of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association, I had the privilege to speak at this event’s Leadership Dinner about the critical role semiconductors play in the global economy and national security," adding, "the theme of this event, 'Lead the Edge to the New Era,' highlights the industry's obligation to lead innovation in the AI era and outlines the process of expanding technologies that will shape the future."

After the Leadership Dinner the previous day, Kwack also told reporters, "We have experienced an unprecedented downturn, and now with the advent of AI, a big wave is coming. I believe Korea will ride it well. I will continue to support the industry as one of its members."

Regarding China’s DeepSeek, he commented, "It is difficult to mention specific products like DeepSeek, but if many attempts of that kind (low-cost AI models) emerge, it will ultimately serve as a significant stimulus for the spread of AI."

At the event, Kwack met with Luke Van den Hove, chairman and CEO of imec; Dirk Wiersma, Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs; and Peter Wennink, former CEO of ASML. He also posted photos with them on social media.