{"id":687,"date":"2026-03-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:8080\/2026-new-executive-hyunsokkim\/"},"modified":"2026-06-15T07:48:05","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T07:48:05","slug":"2026-new-executive-hyunsokkim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.skhynix.com\/en\/2026-new-executive-hyunsokkim\/","title":{"rendered":"[2026 The Leaders] \u201cUnlocking Microscopic Competitiveness with \u2018Scaling Master Key\u2019\u201d: VP Hyunsok Kim, Head of Photo Technology"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the AI era accelerates, semiconductor manufacturing processes are now requiring an unprecedented level of precision and quality. Beyond simply scaling down circuit size, the ability to mass-produce increasingly complex designs with high reproducibility and stability has become critical. In an environment where demand for both performance and integration density is rising, the precise translation of design intent onto wafers has become a key factor in semiconductor competitiveness.<\/p>\n

Among many technologies driving SK hynix\u2019s AI-era breakthroughs, photolithography*<\/span> has played a pivotal role, quietly enabling an extreme level of precision.<\/p>\n

Each finely designed pattern formed through photolithography technology directly impacts product performance, yield, and cost competitiveness, further underscoring the importance of the Photo Technology department.<\/p>\n

*<\/span> Photolithography: A process that transfers circuit designs onto a wafer using light, directly determining semiconductor performance and integration density.<\/p>\n

With the new appointment of Vice President Hyunsok Kim, head of the Photo Technology department, SK hynix is preparing for the next wave of technological innovation. The SK hynix Newsroom met with Kim to discuss his vision for the company as well as his strategic roadmap for the Photo Technology department in the AI era.<\/p>\n

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Profound Responsibility at Critical Moment<\/h3>\n
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Kim is a technology expert who has pushed the boundaries of technology in the photolithography sector since 2004. A true engineer at heart, Kim used to be driven by the sense of accomplishment he felt when achieving the seemingly impossible, such as inscribing microscopic patterns on wafers. Now as head of the Photo Technology department, he says he has a different motivation, a sense of responsibility.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m honored to take on such an important role at this pivotal juncture in the AI transformation, but I also feel a profound sense of responsibility,\u201d Kim shared. \u201cMoving beyond my past role as an engineer, I now stand at a new starting point where I must consider the broader direction and mission of the entire organization. As a leader who sees not just the trees but the entire forest, I pledge to guide the Photo Technology department forward.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kim regards his appointment as a reflection of SK hynix\u2019s expectations and a call to action for the Photo Technology department. As global competition for technological dominance intensifies, he emphasized the growing importance of the department, expressing confidence in steering the department through this critical period.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe photolithography is the core technology that will solve the increasingly complex challenge of semiconductor scaling,\u201d Kim emphasized. \u201cDrawing on the expertise I\u2019ve accumulated in the field, I\u2019m committed to building a Photo Technology department that fully meets the company\u2019s expectations.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Photolithography, the \u2018Master Key\u2019 To Becoming a Full Stack AI Memory Creator<\/h3>\n
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In 2025, SK hynix further solidified its position as the leader of the AI memory market. Amid that momentum, Kim cited the stabilization of the extreme ultraviolet (EUV)*<\/span> process as the most meaningful achievement of the Photo Technology department.<\/p>\n

*<\/span> Extreme ultraviolet (EUV): A lithography technology, using short wavelengths of light (extreme ultraviolet), is used to etch circuit patterns onto wafers.<\/p>\n

\u201cRecently, the Photo Technology department made a significant improvement in EUV process stability, enabling the successful development of 1c*<\/span> DRAM and contributing to the timely development of High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM),\u201d Kim explained. \u201cI consider this our greatest achievement. Implementing ultra-fine patterns involves numerous technical challenges, but our department overcame them one by one, elevating our capabilities to the next level.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

*<\/span> 1c: The sixth generation of the 10nm-class DRAM process technology, which was developed in the order of 1x-1y-1z-1a-1b-1c. In August 2024, SK hynix unveiled the world\u2019s first 1c DRAM technology.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs scaling approaches its limits, the ability to manage EUV technology efficiently and reliably will determine both product quality and cost competitiveness,\u201d Kim emphasized. The process stability secured by the Photo Technology department serves as a powerful platform for accelerating development across the next-generation roadmap. \u201cThis achievement will become a technological asset supporting both \u2018time to market\u2019 and qualitative growth,\u201d he added, underscoring his commitment to strengthening mid-to-long-term competitiveness.<\/p>\n

In particular, as SK hynix advances its vision of becoming a full-stack AI memory creator in 2026, Kim defined the role of the Photo Technology department as the \u201cmaster key\u201d to realizing future memory technologies.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur vision of becoming a full-stack AI memory creator means delivering customer-tailored value at every stage \u2014 from design to process and packaging \u2014 in response to increasingly diverse demands in the AI era,\u201d Kim said. \u201cAs the driving force behind both product performance and mass-production competitiveness, the Photo Technology department serves as the master key to unlocking future memory competitiveness. In response to the AI era, we plan to establish a smart, data-driven photolithography process to secure stable yield and quality across diverse custom product environments.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

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First to lead. Last to leave.<\/h3>\n
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Kim has a clear vision of leadership: to lead from the front while standing alongside his team until the very end. To do so, he believes that a leader must first become a rigorous expert with deep technical expertise.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn my view, a true leader sets the direction from the front and takes responsibility alongside the team until the very end. To make this possible, technical expertise and a collaborative culture that breaks down organizational boundaries must go hand in hand,\u201d Kim shared. \u201cTechnical excellence is the foundation of an organization\u2019s competitiveness and confidence, while a \u2018one-team spirit\u2019 is the force that turns that competitiveness into tangible results. I believe that when the Photo Technology department becomes a central hub of collaboration combining these two pillars, we can transform our vision of becoming a full-stack AI memory creator into reality.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the end of the interview, he shared a New Year\u2019s message with SK hynix employees, emphasizing the importance of embracing challenges.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are now at the forefront of a rapidly changing era for the semiconductor history. While we\u2019re experiencing a period of unprecedented growth, there are also concerns about technological limits,\u201d Kim stated. \u201cHowever, I believe this is precisely the moment for us to take on new challenges and achieve the next stage of growth. Whatever technical challenges arise, there is nothing we can\u2019t accomplish if we work together as one team. I hope we can build an SK hynix where every employee embraces the spirit of challenge, shares in the rewards of our collective efforts, and genuinely encourages one another along the way.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

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