South Korean chipmaker SK hynix Inc. said Wednesday it has begun taking steps for listing on the U.S. stock market. This file photo, taken Jan. 29, 2026, shows the company’s headquarters in Icheon. File Photo by Yonhap
SK hynix Inc. said Wednesday it has begun taking steps for listing on the U.S. stock market as the chipmaker aims to improve access to global investors amid its artificial intelligence (AI) drive.
The South Korean chipmaker filed a “confidential submission” to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) the previous day, with a goal to have its American depositary receipts (ADRs) listed on the U.S. stock exchange within the year, it said in a regulatory filing.
“We are preparing with the goal of listing in the second half,” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kwak Noh-jung said during a general shareholders meeting in Icheon, some 50 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
“As the issuance size and method have not yet been finalized and the listing review process has begun, I cannot disclose specific details in accordance with domestic and international laws and regulations,” he said. “We plan to proceed in a way that helps enhance shareholder value.”
ADRs refer to securities issued in the U.S. stock market that allow the trading of shares in foreign firms. They allow companies to attract U.S.-based investors without a full listing of common shares.
The size, schedule and other details of the process have not yet been confirmed and will largely be determined by market environments, the company noted, adding the final decision will be made by the SEC.
SK hynix’s move is expected to help the chipmaker broaden its funding base in overseas markets, industry watchers said.
The chipmaker said it plans to make another related regulatory filing within six months or earlier if there are further updates.
Separately, Kwak outlined plans to secure more than 100 trillion won (US$66.8 billion) in net cash to support long-term strategic investment for further growth.
“Financial soundness that enables stable investment is essential to respond to structural demand growth and maintain competitiveness,” Kwak said. “We will secure world-class financial strength to lay the foundation for long-term growth.”
According to an annual report, SK hynix maintained net cash of 12.7 trillion won as of end-2025.
Kwak added the company will continue shipments of its high bandwidth memory (HBM) chips as planned this year and aims to release samples of the next-generation HBM4E product later this year.
“HBM3E chips remain the mainstay, and shipments of HBM4 will increase in the second half. Our overall shipment schedule remains largely unchanged,” he said. “We plan to present samples of HBM4E within the year.”
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