SK hynix sets up 2 trillion won lending program for its suppliers
The memory maker is backing loans to its Korean supply chain while its shares trade about 32% below their late-September level.
SK hynix said on Monday, Oct 19, 2026, that it has started a 2 trillion won financing program for its Korean semiconductor suppliers. Yonhap described the program as loan guarantees offered jointly with the government. The Korea Herald put its size at about $1.5 billion.
The company’s stated goal is to give suppliers access to cheaper funding and to make Korea’s chip supply chain stronger, The Korea Herald reported.
Five partners, no split disclosed
According to The Korea Herald, five partners join SK hynix in the program. One is the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation, a state-run export credit insurer. The other four are major commercial banks: Hana, KB Kookmin, Shinhan and Woori.
SK hynix CEO Kwak Noh-jung and Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan were at the signing, the Herald said. Officials from the insurer, the banks and supplier companies also took part. SK hynix has not said how much each partner contributes or which suppliers will qualify.
A small sum beside second-quarter profit
The sum is small next to SK hynix’s recent earnings. In the second quarter of 2026, the company reported consolidated operating profit of 60.54 trillion won (about US$45.5 billion) on revenue of 79.32 trillion won, figures filed on Aug 14, 2026. That operating profit was up 557.15% from a year earlier and was the highest in at least six quarters.
The stock last closed at 1,272,000 won (US$955.39 at 1,331.4 won per dollar) on Friday, Oct 16, up 0.79% on the session. Over the five sessions to Oct 16 the shares lost 24.33%, a slide covered in our report on the chipmakers’ worst week since 2008. Its market value of 929.19 trillion won on Oct 16 equaled 21.55% of the total market value of the KOSPI 200, Korea’s main large-cap index.
Third-quarter call on Oct 28
SK hynix holds a conference call on its 2026 third-quarter results on Oct 28 at 09:00 KST. The company has not said when the first loans under the new program will be made.
Information only, not investment advice.
Sources
- SK hynix, gov't to provide 2 tln won in loan guarantees to semiconductor suppliers
- SK hynix launches W2tr financing program to bolster chip suppliers
- KRX closing prices (Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, TIGER 200)
- USD/KRW at the 15:30 KST close (statistic 731Y003)
- KOSPI index close
- Foreign investors' net buying of KOSPI shares (statistic 802Y001)
- KOSPI 200 market values (shares outstanding times the KRX close)
- SK hynix: quarterly results (2025 Q1 to 2026 Q2, consolidated; periodic reports and preliminary results filings)
- SK hynix: investor relations event (earnings call or briefing)
- SK hynix: end of the share buyback period
- SK hynix: company said it would update the market on a press report by this date
- SK hynix: company said it would update the market on a press report by this date
- SK hynix: dividend decision
- Export price and export value indexes by item (statistics 402Y016, 403Y001)
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