SK Hynix Appoints Female Legal Expert as Board Chairperson... "Preparing Strategy Beyond HBM"

Hanae Ra: "Technology-Centered Decision-Making"
Full Support for Leading-Edge Technologies
Strategies to Strengthen Competitiveness in the AI Era

Hanae Ra, who has been appointed as the first female Chairperson of the Board of Directors since the establishment of SK Hynix, stated that she will "always pursue technology-centered decision-making."

In an interview with the SK Hynix Newsroom on June 10, Hanae Ra said, "One of the reasons SK Hynix was able to achieve record results last year was high bandwidth memory (HBM). The strategy that supported us to move ahead of other competitors proved effective." She added that the company will continue to fully support advanced technologies.

Hanae Ra, a legal expert, has served as a judge and attorney and is currently a professor at the Sungkyunkwan University Law School. She is also active as a conciliator at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and as an international arbitrator at the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board. She joined the SK Hynix Board of Directors in 2020 and was appointed as the new Chairperson of the Board in March.

Hanae Ra, Chairperson of the SK Hynix Board of Directors. SK Hynix Newsroom.

The decision to appoint Hanae Ra as Chairperson was based on a strategic judgment to "strengthen AI leadership." The company recognized that robust governance is essential to enhance fundamental competitiveness in the AI era, and that the role of a legal expert is crucial to effectively manage legal and geopolitical issues on the global stage.

Regarding her appointment, Hanae Ra commented, "It is the role of a legal expert to ensure the business prospers and to review matters so that it does not stray off course." She added, "I will continue the current direction, make more prudent decisions, and work in step with the management team."

She explained that she will focus on developing strategies to enhance competitiveness in the AI era. "At SK Hynix, the voices of technology experts are well reflected in management and have a significant impact on determining the company's direction," she said. "Maintaining this approach and striking a balance between 'expanding investment and development' and 'adjusting the pace of development' will be the strategy for preparing for next-generation memory after HBM, and it will also be the core strategy for building fundamental competitiveness in the AI era."

Regarding the organization, she stated, "I describe the growth of the organization leading to my own growth as 'Bigger Than Myself.' While individual achievements are limited, greater results can be achieved when the organization works together," she emphasized.

She added, "Technology that enhances human convenience through AI continues to advance, and we are taking a step into the unknown every day. I look forward to a world where SK Hynix semiconductors become the foundation of all technologies and innovations in daily life. As the highest decision-making body, the Board of Directors will do its utmost."