Seoul, Jan 19, 2026, 08:14 KST — Premarket
- SK hynix wrapped up Friday at 756,000 won, marking a 0.93% gain.
- Seoul is set to enter talks aimed at securing favourable terms regarding potential U.S. tariffs on memory chips.
- Investors are eyeing policy signals alongside SK hynix’s results due January 29 for their next move.
SK hynix Inc (000660.KS) is in focus for Monday’s Seoul trading as South Korea plans to negotiate better terms on U.S. tariffs that might impact memory-chip exports. The stock closed Friday at 756,000 won, gaining 0.93%, after fluctuating between 747,000 and 763,000, with 3.57 million shares traded. 1
The tariff issue is front and center as U.S. trade policy targets the chip sector again, putting Korea’s top exporters right in the crosshairs. For SK hynix, even small changes that hike costs or dampen demand in crucial markets could ripple through their order books fast.
The timing couldn’t be worse. Chipmakers are about to lay out their demand and spending forecasts, but policy chatter threatens to drown out those signals.
A presidential office spokesperson said Sunday the government plans to push for favorable terms on U.S. tariffs for memory-chip imports. They referenced a joint fact sheet from the two countries’ trade deal, which includes language designed to ensure South Korea isn’t disadvantaged compared to major competitors. The comments followed the Trump administration’s move to impose tariffs on certain artificial-intelligence chips. 2
Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo said the 25% tariff announced so far targets advanced chips from Nvidia and AMD, stressing memory chips are excluded. He told reporters the “immediate impact is expected to be limited,” but cautioned it’s “not yet time to be reassured,” amid uncertainty about a possible second phase expanding the measures. Yeo also noted the White House described the tariffs as narrowly focused, while Bloomberg reported U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick warned tariffs could reach as high as 100% for companies that don’t invest in U.S. manufacturing. 3
SK hynix produces DRAM and NAND memory, along with high-bandwidth memory (HBM) — a stacked, high-speed type of DRAM designed to work with AI processors for rapid data transfer.
Samsung Electronics stands as another major local bellwether in memory, with tariff news often shaking both companies in tandem. U.S. rival Micron is also under the spotlight as Washington pushes suppliers to boost domestic capacity.
The risk is simple: trade measures that begin narrowly can quickly broaden. Should the U.S. extend tariffs to cover semiconductors at large — or goods embedding them — the impact wouldn’t just make headlines; it would shift pricing, sourcing, and possibly dampen demand.
Investors are eyeing Seoul’s discussions with Washington for clues on a possible “second phase” that could expand beyond AI processors. SK hynix plans to report its FY2025 fourth-quarter earnings on Jan. 29 at 9:00 a.m. KST. 4
