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The global artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem is facing an unprecedented structural shift, and the numbers coming from the absolute top of the semiconductor supply chain are staggering. During a recent press briefing at the 49th Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Jeju Forum, Chey Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group and the KCCI, delivered a powerful, detailed forecast regarding the explosive surge in global memory semiconductor demand. He stated that overall semiconductor demand is projected to skyrocket by at least 50% to 60% next year, driven by an insatiable appetite for AI infrastructure.

With SK hynix playing an indispensable role as the primary supplier of High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) to tech titans like NVIDIA, Chairman Chey’s candid remarks offer a vital roadmap for Wall Street and global tech investors. Below is a comprehensive, deep-dive analysis of his core messages, the geopolitical pressures involved, and why he strongly projects a long-term upward trajectory for SK hynix.

1.The Demand Shock: “A State of Total Chaos and Intense Lobbying”

According to Chairman Chey, the velocity of the AI infrastructure buildout is vastly outstripping current market expectations. He revealed that customer requests for AI-specific memory chips next year are expected to increase by 60% to 100% compared to this year.

“There are projections that demand next year will increase by at least 60% to 100% compared to this year. Even if we look at the entire semiconductor industry as a whole, we must expect an overall increase of at least 50% to 60%.”

Chey did not mince words when describing the sheer desperation of global tech companies trying to secure allocation. “I don’t know if I should use the term ‘total chaos’ (아비규환), but we are currently receiving an immense amount of lobbying and intense pressure from clients worldwide,” he confessed. This highlights that memory chips have evolved from mere commodities into a critical national security asset. Governments and corporations alike now realize that without securing cutting-edge memory, their entire technological and economic production will grind to a halt.

2.Near-Zero Supply Growth: Widening the Deficit

While demand is accelerating exponentially, the supply side is hitting a hard brick wall. Chey explicitly warned that the additional supply capacity coming online next year is almost non-existent. Because building advanced semiconductor fabrication plants (fabs) requires astronomical capital and years of lead time, the supply-demand gap is structurally guaranteed to widen even further throughout next year.

When asked about U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo’s persistent demands for South Korean chipmakers to increase investments on American soil, Chey remained unfazed. “They have been saying the exact same thing continuously. It is not surprising or new at all,” he remarked. Instead, he emphasized that the current priority is sheer execution speed and scale: “We must do our best to increase production at the fastest possible speed. The scale must be massive. The current situation requires us to build fabs in every single location where it is physically possible.”

This aggressive survival strategy spans the globe. Chey noted that SK is scanning the entire world to prioritize locations based on where they can build the fastest, largest, and most efficient facilities—whether that is in Korea’s Honam region or the United States. This rapid expansion has effectively become the ultimate lifeline for the Korean semiconductor industry.

3.The Long-Term Vision: “AI is Only a 4-Year-Old Child”

Addressing the recent volatility and skepticism surrounding tech stocks, Chairman Chey offered a highly reassuring, bullish outlook for SK hynix’s stock price, advising investors to take a long-term approach.

“Memory semiconductors will be continuously required moving forward. If you give it time and look at it from a long-term perspective, the stock price will inevitably chart a long-term upward trajectory (우상향).”

To back up his claim, Chey used a powerful analogy regarding the evolution of artificial intelligence. “AI is currently like a four-year-old child,” he explained. “As a child grows into an adult, their memories accumulate and expand drastically. In the exact same way, as AI matures and develops, the amount of data and memory it needs to store and process will scale at an exponential rate. Memory demand has no choice but to grow phenomenally.”

4.Beyond Chips: Anticipating the Next Industry Bottlenecks

In a brilliant macroeconomic observation, Chairman Chey mapped out the subsequent bottlenecks that will emerge as the AI revolution progresses. He warned that the market must look beyond silicon, as the massive power consumption of AI data centers will trigger severe shortages in other legacy sectors.

According to Chey, the bottlenecks will cascade in the following order:

• Energy and Power Equipment: The foundational requirement to keep data centers running.
• Materials and Critical Infrastructure: “Once AI fully mobilizes, we will see a situation where copper wires and electrical equipment materials completely run out. Even now, prices are surging, and submarine cables are in short supply,” Chey pointed out.
• Advanced Construction: Modern data centers require highly fluid, hyper-specific engineering standards. Chey noted that construction is incredibly challenging because the technical specifications change completely every one to two years.

5. The 1,000-Trillion-Won AI Data Center Project: Entering the Electrified Society

Chey expressed absolute confidence regarding the massive, 1,000-trillion-won mega-project aimed at building next-generation AI data centers. He dismissed concerns over funding or client acquisition, explaining the strict financial engineering behind these infrastructure projects.

“Building a data center means that the customers are already secured,” Chey explained. “A project is only considered officially initiated when long-term contracts spanning a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of 15 years are fully locked in as a condition for financing. The construction only starts turning when the customers, equipment, land, and power grid are perfectly matched.”

He defined this monumental project as the definitive “first step toward a fully electrified society.” The sheer volume of data centers scheduled for annual construction requires an astronomical amount of electricity. Chey highlighted that the industry has reached a critical bottleneck where relying primarily on fossil fuels is no longer viable. Consequently, he noted that governments are clearly realizing that renewable energy alone cannot meet this demand, prompting a necessary pivot to incorporate nuclear power and all forms of reliable baseload power generation into the grand strategy.

Investor Takeaway: The Ultimate AI Gatekeeper

For global investors, Chairman Chey Tae-won’s extensive brief reframes the entire semiconductor landscape. The AI revolution is not a fleeting hype cycle; it is a structural overhaul of global infrastructure that demands massive amounts of memory, energy, and materials. With supply growth hitting near-zero limits next year amidst frantic global lobbying, SK hynix sits in an enviable position of absolute pricing power and structural demand. For those looking past short-term market noise, the message from the top is clear: the technological foundation of the future is being laid right now, and memory remains its ultimate gatekeeper.

Disclaimer: This post is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Always conduct your own independent research and consult with a certified professional before making investment decisions.