[News] SK hynix Reportedly Starts Yongin Y1 Equipment Orders, Moves Up Phase 1 Opening to Feb. 2027

As SK hynix warns that the memory supply shortfall could peak in 2027 and persist into the next decade, the company is accelerating its expansion. According to ZDNet, the memory giant has begun placing equipment orders for its Yongin Y1 fab, targeting an initial capacity boost of around 20,000 wafers per month.

SK hynix has also pulled forward the Y1 phase 1 timeline, moving the planned opening from May to February 2027, with equipment installation scheduled to ramp up in March–April, ZDNet reports.

Yongin is set to become a key DRAM production hub for SK hynix, with Y1 focused on sixth-generation 10nm-class (1c) DRAM, the industry’s latest commercial node, ZDNet notes. The technology will reportedly support high-value AI memory products, including DDR, LPDDR, and next-generation HBM4E, which SK hynix plans to commercialize as early as next year.

Y1 Phase 2 and Phase 3 Preparations Underway

Meanwhile, SK hynix is also accelerating the next phases of its Yongin project. According to the report, an equipment industry official said the company is expected to begin cleanroom construction for Y1 phase 2 and phase 3 in the second half of 2026.

The aggressive schedule reflects SK hynix’s broader push to accelerate its Yongin cluster development. As previously reported by Chosun Biz, the company now aims to complete its fourth fab by 2033, pulling the timeline forward by 12 years from the previous 2045 target.

Samsung Targets 2029 Start for First Yongin Fab

In parallel, Samsung Electronics is also accelerating its Yongin semiconductor hub. According to Aju News, the company is targeting 2029 to bring the first of its six planned fabs online — up to two years earlier than originally expected.

To stay on track, site preparation is expected to begin in the second half of this year, followed by fab construction in 2027, Aju News suggests. With the government fast-tracking development of the Yongin National Industrial Complex, Samsung’s mass production timeline has reportedly been pulled forward from the previously expected 2030–2031 timeframe.

Unlike Samsung’s Pyeongtaek campus, which is focused on DRAM and HBM production, the first Yongin fab, as noted by Asia Business Daily, is expected to anchor the company’s advanced foundry business.

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(Photo credit: SK hynix)