ASML Korea recruiting dedicated customer technology manager for SK Hynix

Role involves proposing EUV and DUV equipment supply along production roadmap

SK Hynix's massive capex drives growing equipment demand

12 trillion-won EUV contract signed in March

Korea overtook Taiwan and China as ASML's largest revenue source in Q1

The headquarters of ASML, the world's leading semiconductor equipment maker, in Veldhoven, the Netherlands, on May 24 (local time). [Reuters]
The headquarters of ASML, the world's leading semiconductor equipment maker, in Veldhoven, the Netherlands, on May 24 (local time). [Reuters]

ASML, the semiconductor equipment maker dubbed a "super vendor" — a supplier so indispensable that it wields dominant bargaining power despite nominally being the vendor in the relationship — is deepening its engagement with Korean customers. After Korea emerged as ASML's largest revenue source in the first quarter — surpassing Taiwan and China — the Dutch company is recruiting dedicated technical specialists to manage its Korean accounts.

According to industry sources Thursday, ASML Korea is hiring a Customer Technology Manager exclusively assigned to SK Hynix. The role involves proposing sales of EUV and deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography equipment in line with SK Hynix's semiconductor production roadmap. Candidates must have more than 10 years of experience in the semiconductor field, a master's or doctoral degree in a related discipline, and expertise in photolithography — the process of etching circuit patterns onto wafers.

The hire will align ASML's EUV and DUV equipment supply with SK Hynix's future process and memory production plans, and propose equipment deliveries based on the customer's high-volume manufacturing schedule and process requirements.

The position also involves engaging with SK Hynix's senior management to identify new business development opportunities, forecasting demand for new equipment, and devising strategies for upgrading existing tools.

ASML already operates offices near domestic semiconductor fabs to support its Korean customers. It maintains offices in Icheon and Cheongju to serve SK Hynix, and separate offices in Hwaseong and Pyeongtaek for Samsung Electronics.

Analysts say the push to hire a dedicated SK Hynix manager reflects the chipmaker's massive capital expenditure plans, particularly anticipated purchases of EUV equipment for its Yongin cluster.

SK Hynix disclosed in March that it would procure EUV equipment from ASML Korea worth 11.9497 trillion won (approximately $7.83 billion) — the total estimated cost covering new machinery installation and modifications needed to introduce and operate EUV scanners. The company plans to complete the equipment acquisition by December next year.

SK Hynix is pouring large-scale investment into expanding its semiconductor production lines, making it a critical customer for ASML. Construction is proceeding rapidly at the first fab of the Yongin cluster's Phase 1, with the first cleanroom set to begin operation in February next year — about three months ahead of the original May schedule.

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won said earlier this month at Computex 2026 in Taiwan that "the memory bottleneck is expected to continue through 2030," adding that the group plans to double its wafer production capacity over the next five years.

ASML equipment during the manufacturing process. [Source: ASML]
ASML equipment during the manufacturing process. [Source: ASML]

SK Hynix has also moved aggressively to secure technological leadership. In September last year, it became an early adopter of High NA EUV — a next-generation lithography tool that offers higher resolution than conventional EUV, enabling more precise circuit patterning. The machine SK Hynix introduced was ASML's TWINSCAN EXE:5200B, the first High NA EUV model designed for mass production.

SK Hynix first applied EUV to its 10-nanometer-class fourth-generation (1a nm) DRAM in 2021 and has steadily expanded its use of the technology in cutting-edge DRAM manufacturing since. By adopting newer equipment, the company aims to simplify existing EUV processes, accelerate next-generation memory development, and improve both product performance and cost competitiveness simultaneously.

The sustained demand has propelled Korea to the top of ASML's revenue rankings. ASML reported net sales of 6.3 billion euros (approximately $7.3 billion) from equipment sales in the first quarter of this year. Korea accounted for 45 percent of that total, overtaking Taiwan at 23 percent and China at 19 percent to claim the top spot. In the fourth quarter of last year, China had led with a 36 percent share, followed by Korea at 22 percent and Taiwan at 13 percent.

Memory chip makers accounted for 51 percent of ASML's equipment purchases in the first quarter, with the remainder coming from the logic and foundry sector. That marks a sharp reversal from the fourth quarter of last year, when logic and foundry customers represented 70 percent of purchases, far outpacing memory.

An ASML Korea spokesperson said the recruitment is "part of routine staffing to provide the best technical service to global customers," adding that the company "flexibly adjusts its hiring scale in line with semiconductor market growth."


jeongwan@heraldcorp.com