SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won said the company is reviewing plans to build a memory semiconductor joint factory in Japan, according to a report from 뉴스핌 published Monday.
Chey made the remarks during discussions tied to Korea-Japan business cooperation, the report said. He described the two countries as having many similarities and said they could be partners that expand each other's markets, according to coverage by v.daum.net.
The proposal comes as business leaders from both countries focus on supply chains and energy security. A separate report from 연합인포맥스 noted that the Korea-Japan chamber of commerce chairmen's group called for joint efforts in those areas and for leveraging regional strengths.
Chey's comments were also picked up by 한국경제 and 경향신문, both of which reported that SK is examining the possibility of a semiconductor joint plant in Japan. The reports did not specify a timeline, location, or potential partner for the project.
The semiconductor sector has become a central point of industrial policy in both South Korea and Japan in recent years. Memory chips, in particular, are a major export category for South Korea, and Japan has moved to strengthen its domestic chip production capacity.
A joint factory in Japan would mark a significant step for SK, which operates its main memory production facilities in South Korea. The company has not issued an official statement beyond Chey's remarks, and no formal agreement has been announced.
What to watch next is whether SK moves from review to a concrete plan, and which Japanese partner it might work with on the project.
