At the core of SK hynix’s management lies the SK Management System (SKMS). As SK Group’s management philosophy that aims to enhance employee happiness while pursuing VWBE1 and SUPEX2, SKMS is a key driver of SK hynix’s growth.
1Voluntarily & Willingly Brain Engagement (VWBE): One of the employee values emphasized by SK Management System (SKMS), VWBE promotes a state of voluntary and willing thinking.
2Super Excellent Level (SUPEX): The highest level of achievement that can be attained, as defined by SKMS, SK Group’s management philosophy.
Among the departments dedicated to help the company practice SKMS is SKMS & Growth, which focuses on employee growth and human resource development (HRD). The department plays a vital role in systematically supporting employee development as they spread and reinforce SKMS.
In early 2025, Vice President Songman Lee was appointed as the new executive in charge of SKMS & Growth. For Lee, HRD is linked to business performance as he claims that “a company can only grow when each and every employee grows”. In the third episode of an interview series featuring newly appointed executives in 2025, the newsroom spoke with Lee to hear about his plans for the future.
Inspired by Employees’ Desire for Growth
Lee has built a diverse career over the course of 27 years at SK Group. Having spent significant time working on talent development and the expansion of SKMS at SK Group, he revealed that he “found something particularly special in SK hynix employees” after joining the company in 2022.
“The strong desire and motivation for self-growth demonstrated by SK hynix employees have been truly inspiring,” he claimed. “In many other companies, when job training programs are introduced, you typically need to carry out extensive promotional efforts to encourage participation. However, at SK hynix, there have been instances where the registration servers crashed due to overwhelming interest—even without additional promotion. Having seen this, I feel that our employees are actively practicing VWBE and SUPEX in their own growth journeys.”
Lee continued by expressing the weight of responsibility he feels as a newly appointed executive.
“While I am excited about this new role, I feel an even greater sense of responsibility and duty to foster the experts who will lead our company now and in the future,” he said. “Seeing our employees’ exceptional passion and drive for growth, I am determined to do my best to support and nurture their development.”
Diverse Growth Support Programs
Lee emphasized the importance of employees actively utilizing the company’s diverse growth support programs.
“As SKMS also highlights, employee development is a core value and goal of SK hynix,” he stated. “To achieve this, we plan and operate a variety of growth support programs at the company-wide level. If employees take full advantage of these resources, they will undoubtedly be able to enhance their expertise and achieve meaningful growth.”
Among the various programs available, Lee strongly recommended SK hynix University3 (SKHU) and one of its key offerings, the Job Certification Course.
3SK hynix University (SKHU): An in-house education platform with a university-level academic system.
“The Job Certification Course provides structured training tailored to different job levels, creating an environment where employees eager to grow into experts can thrive,” he said. “As they progress through each stage of learning, they will eventually find themselves developing into true specialists in their respective fields.”
The Job Certification Course recommended by Lee offers 254 curricula across 81 job categories. It is designed to provide a structured learning experience, equipping employees with essential knowledge and skills required in the semiconductor industry. Additionally, competency badges are awarded based on learning progress at different levels, allowing employees to showcase their job expertise and achievements while also motivating them to continue learning. Notably, these curricula are continuously updated in line with employee development plans, ensuring optimal training even in a rapidly evolving environment.
Lee also expressed his pride in SKHU, stating: “Thanks to our professional faculty, expert instructors, and well-organized curricula, SKHU boasts a level of structure and expertise that other companies simply cannot replicate. SKMS & Growth will continue to enhance our programs based on employee feedback, so I encourage everyone to actively participate in training and share any suggestions for program additions or improvements.”
Overcoming a Rapidly Changing Environment With SKMS DNA
Recognizing the need for new approaches to HRD in the AI era, Lee emphasized that, as a newly appointed executive, he will focus on utilizing AI in HRD and cultivating experts in the field.
“As SK hynix leads the AI revolution, we must also focus more on nurturing AI talent,” he said. “In 2025, we are preparing an AI expert development program to enhance our AI capabilities and a program to promote the systematic use of AI tools, ultimately transforming the way we work.”
Lee also outlined several other initiatives for 2025 which will be developed in more detail. These include internalizing SKMS by running company-wide ‘Can Meetings4’ and promoting team-based SKMS workshops to build a flexible yet strong ‘one-team’ spirit. Additional measures include supporting technological innovation by proactively improving employee capabilities, developing an even more advanced version of SKHU 5.0, and operating leadership enhancement programs to foster the growth of global leaders.
4Can Meetings: A meeting in which SK hynix employees of different levels can discuss management challenges with a clear goal and solve problems through collective intelligence. The name is derived from the late SK Group Chairman Choi Jong-Hyun’s time studying abroad, when students would meet for discussions in an area called the ‘Can.’
Finally, Lee expressed his gratitude to employees and shared his aspirations as a new executive.
“In overcoming the recent downturn, we were once again able to see SK hynix’s resilience,” he added. “I believe this outcome is due to the efforts of our employees who have worked hard to practice VWBE and SUPEX, and the SKMS philosophy embedded in SK hynix’s DNA. I want to express my gratitude to all employees who strive for the growth of themselves and the company. Together with the SKMS & Growth team, I will work hard to provide the optimal environment for the growth and development of every employee.”
Read more articles from the New Leadership Spotlight 2025 series
