Yunik Son, Team Leader, Wins Korea Engineer Award in IT Sector
Leads Innovation in DRAM Development by Applying HKMG Process
"Collaboration with Colleagues Is as Important as Technical Depth"
Yunik Son, team leader of the DPERI (DRAM Peripheral; the peripheral circuits required for DRAM cell operation control and data read/write) organization at the SK Hynix Future Technology Research Institute, has received the 'Korea Engineer Award.'
According to SK Hynix on June 18, Son received the award at the '2025 First Half Korea Engineer Award Ceremony' held the previous day at Samjung Hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The Engineer Award, presented by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Industrial Technology Association, is given to engineers who have achieved outstanding research and development (R&D) results in the industrial field, and highlights those who have contributed to enhancing Korea's technological competitiveness.
Yunik Son, team leader of the DPERI organization at SK Hynix Future Technology Research Institute, is taking a commemorative photo with colleagues after receiving the 'Korea Engineer Award' at the awards ceremony held on the 17th at Samjung Hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. SK Hynix
Son, who was honored in the IT engineer category, has been a key figure in leading the development of next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor technology at SK Hynix. He was recognized for his contributions in continuously challenging the technical limits while spearheading the development of high bandwidth memory (HBM) and low-power DRAM (LPDDR) for mobile devices.
As a device engineer, Son has devoted himself to the development of Peri (Peripheral) transistors for various DRAM products, and is regarded as having demonstrated technological leadership to achieve performance improvements that customers can experience, even under demanding requirements for high performance, low power consumption, and high reliability.
Son stated, "I recall the moments when my colleagues and I put our heads together to find solutions whenever we hit a wall," and added, "I will continue to drive technological innovation that will lead the advancement of the national industry with a 'one team spirit.'"
He particularly emphasized, "HBM and LPDDR were not just about increasing performance; it was a difficult challenge to simultaneously achieve low power consumption, reliability, and mass production," adding, "Each organization did its utmost in its area of expertise, and thanks to mutual understanding and cooperation, we have been able to maintain our AI memory leadership."
Son Yunik, team leader of the DPERI organization at SK Hynix Future Technology Research Institute, who received the 'Korea Engineer Award.' He was recognized for his achievements in leading technological innovation, including applying the HKMG process to DRAM development. SK Hynix
The most symbolic achievement in Son's journey is the successful application of the HKMG (High-K Metal Gate) process to DRAM. The HKMG process is a next-generation technology that uses materials with a high dielectric constant (K) as the insulating layer inside DRAM transistors, preventing leakage current and improving capacitance caused by process miniaturization. Originally applied to logic semiconductors such as central processing units (CPUs) and application processors (APs), the process had not been attempted for DRAM manufacturing due to many constraints. However, Son boldly took on the challenge and ultimately succeeded in dramatically improving both product performance and power efficiency.
He reflected, "Introducing HKMG to DRAM was not just a simple technological extension, but a paradigm shift," and added, "We had to minimize the impact on cell transistors while overcoming the drawbacks of HKMG."
Son stated, "Engineers are people who solve the world's problems through technology," and emphasized, "The essence lies in discovering and realizing new possibilities despite various constraints." He also offered advice to younger engineers, saying, "I want to urge future engineers to have 'faith in technology' and 'perseverance to withstand failure.' I hope you practice boldness with the conviction that the technology you create can change the world."
To SK Hynix members, he said, "We are now at a critical juncture in the transition to the AI era," stressing, "Ultimately, technology is created by people, and the passion, focus, and collaboration of each member are our greatest strengths." He reiterated the importance of the 'one team' spirit, saying, "The depth of trust and collaboration with colleagues is as important as the depth of technology. I hope we become a true one team that learns, fails, and grows together."
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