'ThanksFULL Day' set for Oct. 15 at Seoul Land in Gwacheon

About 130 key partners invited; programs center on togetherness and gratitude

Company to also advance 304.7 billion won in payments ahead of Chuseok

SK hynix President and CEO Kwak Noh-jung [SK hynix]
SK hynix President and CEO Kwak Noh-jung [SK hynix]

SK hynix will hold a large-scale appreciation event for employees of its partner companies and their families next month.

The chipmaker announced Thursday it will host "ThanksFULL Day" on Oct. 15 at Seoul Land in Gwacheon, inviting about 30,000 people — including roughly 8,000 employees from around 130 key partner companies and their families.

The event's name reflects the company's intent to express its heartfelt gratitude — "Thanks" — in full measure — "FULL" — to the partners who have helped drive its achievements.

SK hynix credits the expertise of its partner companies as a key driver in advancing semiconductor technology development and production competitiveness. The company organized the event out of a conviction that the dedication and hard work of frontline employees at those partners were indispensable to its current success.

The gratitude extends to families as well. The event is designed to give partner employees and the family members who have supported them a chance to create lasting memories together.

Built around the themes of "togetherness" and "gratitude," the event will feature hands-on programs and activities for the whole family throughout the venue. All attendees will receive a welcome gift, and a special "kids' goods" set has been prepared for younger visitors — including a three-dimensional craft modeled on a semiconductor fab — so children can explore the world where their parents work in a fun, approachable way.

SK hynix executives will be on hand to greet partner employees and their families in person. Cha Seon-yong, head of the Future Technology Research Institute, and Lee Byeong-gi, head of mass production operations — both of whom have worked alongside partners through every stage from technology development to mass production — will welcome attendees one by one at the venue entrance. President and CEO Kwak Noh-jung also plans to attend and personally convey his appreciation to partner employees and their families.

The event extends SK hynix's ongoing co-growth initiatives. The company views the competitiveness of its partners as directly tied to the strength of South Korea's semiconductor ecosystem — and its own. To that end, it has run support programs spanning technology, finance and overall business operations. In July, it announced plans to deploy 1.4 trillion won ($1.03 billion) in co-growth funds over the next five years to strengthen support for semiconductor materials, components and equipment suppliers.

On the technology side, SK hynix operates an "R&D Challenge Reward" program to assist partners that have solid technical capabilities but face funding constraints, as well as an "IPR Sharing Support Center" that shares its patents with partner companies. At the Yongin semiconductor cluster, it is also building a "Trinity Fab" for joint research, development and verification with partners, which it plans to open from 2027.

Financial and operational support continues as well. Through its "Co-Growth Fund," the company provides low-interest financing to partners and has steadily improved its payment terms.

Around major holidays, when cash demand tends to spike, SK hynix advances payments to ease liquidity pressure on its partners. This year, the company will pay approximately 304.7 billion won in supplier payments ahead of the Chuseok holiday. The move is intended to complement the company's formal support programs with tangible relief that partners can feel directly.

The upcoming event goes a step further than these support measures, carrying a direct message of thanks and encouragement to the people who have worked side by side with SK hynix on the front lines.

"Our partners are invaluable companions in building the competitiveness of Korean semiconductors, and SK hynix's achievements would not have been possible without the efforts of the partner employees who have worked alongside us in the field," Kwak said. "We will sincerely express our gratitude to their employees and families, and at the same time continue to provide practical support so that our partners can strengthen their technological competitiveness and grow on a stable footing."


gil@heraldcorp.com