SK Hynix's M15X facility in Cheongju, South Korea experienced a fire on June 12 at 9:55 AM, marking the second safety incident at the site this month. The facility's sprinkler system activated and extinguished the fire, with over 4,000 employees evacuated as a safety precaution and no casualties reported. SK Hynix preliminarily determined the incident occurred during gas-related work processes and is investigating the exact cause, potential gas leaks, and equipment impact. This follows a June 1 fire at the same facility complex, which occurred 11 days earlier and involved fluorine gas leakage.
SK Hynix Confirms Production Equipment Operating Normally
SK Hynix responded to media inquiries on June 12 stating that initial control measures have been completed and the company is investigating specific details. The company confirmed that production equipment is running normally. The investigation is examining the exact cause of the fire, whether gas leakage occurred, and the extent of impact on production equipment.
M15X Facility Produces HBM Memory for AI Chip Demand
The M15X facility serves as SK Hynix's core production base, dedicated to manufacturing HBM (high-bandwidth memory) and advanced DRAM chips. The facility functions as a key installation for meeting AI chip demand.
June 1 Fire Caused Fluorine Gas Leak and Mass Evacuation
On the morning of June 1, a fire broke out in the sixth-floor gas room connecting the M15 and M15X buildings, triggering fluorine gas leakage. Seven workers were sent to hospitals for treatment, and over 3,600 employees were evacuated, causing alarm among nearby residents. Earlier on May 27, the M11 facility also triggered an evacuation due to equipment anomalies.
SK Hynix Holds 58% Global HBM Market Share
SK Hynix ranks as one of the world's three major memory chip manufacturers and holds the leading position in HBM chip market share. According to Counterpoint data, SK Hynix captured 58% of the global HBM market in the first quarter as a core HBM supplier to NVIDIA, while Samsung and Micron each held 21% market share. On June 2, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won disclosed at the Taipei Computer Show that SK Hynix plans to double wafer production capacity within five years. As of publication, SK Hynix stock rose over 9%.
FAQ
What happened at SK Hynix's M15X facility on June 12?
A fire occurred at SK Hynix's M15X facility in Cheongju, South Korea on June 12 at 9:55 AM. The facility's sprinkler system activated and extinguished the fire. Over 4,000 employees were evacuated as a safety precaution, and no casualties were reported. SK Hynix stated that production equipment is running normally and is investigating the incident, which preliminarily appears related to gas-related work processes.
How many safety incidents has the M15X facility experienced this month?
The June 12 fire marks the second safety incident at the M15X facility this month, occurring 11 days after a June 1 fire. The June 1 incident involved a fire in the sixth-floor gas room connecting the M15 and M15X buildings, which caused fluorine gas leakage, sent seven workers to hospitals, and resulted in the evacuation of over 3,600 employees.
