Allegations against Chairman Choi without evidence, acquitted after 6 years
In 2019, the allegations of 'self-dealing' surrounding the acquisition of shares in Siltron cast a shadow over the name of Choi Tae-won, the Chairman of SK Group, overnight.
The imposition of fines by the Fair Trade Commission, a criminal investigation, and prolonged legal battles added a negative image to him, tarnishing his reputation as a leading innovator in the business community.
However, in June of this year, the Supreme Court completely overturned the Fair Trade Commission's ruling. Then last month (July), the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office declared Choi as 'not guilty.'
Both the Supreme Court and the prosecutors concluded that there was "no crime." This was not simply a legal judgment but a symbolic moment marking the end of a six-year history of defamation.
Unwavering growth of SK Hynix, designing the future through the AI ecosystem
Despite the long and severe tunnel of allegations, Chairman Choi did not falter. He remained dedicated to management without pause. Under his leadership, SK Hynix firmly established its position as the second-largest player in the global memory semiconductor market and became a key supplier for AI semiconductor companies like NVIDIA and AMD, achieving a global market share of around 40% in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market. From the end of 2024, SK Hynix is expected to further widen the technology gap with competitors by successfully starting mass production of 12-layer HBM3E.
His focus extends beyond mere semiconductor sales to building an 'AI full-stack ecosystem.' SK Group plans to invest 67 trillion won in AI and digital infrastructure by 2030, creating an integrated structure connecting next-generation AI semiconductors, ultra-large data centers, AI cloud platforms, and AI application services.
Collaborations with Microsoft for joint AI data center construction and with NVIDIA for HBM supply and AI semiconductor optimization projects are underway, with plans to establish an AI cloud hub in Southeast Asia to complete a data highway connecting Asia, the U.S., and Europe.
Leadership that creates opportunities in every crisis
The conclusion of 'not guilty' is closely related to the path Chairman Choi has taken. He experienced the unprecedented situation of being imprisoned in 2011, but after returning to management, he boldly acquired SK Hynix and transformed it into a global semiconductor powerhouse.
Even during the liquidity crisis that shook SK Group during the 1998 financial crisis, he proposed telecommunications, energy, and semiconductors as future growth areas, changing the structure of the group. The market views the resolution of the Siltron incident as "another opportunity to prove his management DNA that turns crises into opportunities."
More than just reinstatement, a turning point in the industry
This 'not guilty' verdict is not merely a confirmation of legal innocence. It marks the moment the shackles that bound the head of the country’s third-largest conglomerate were removed, accelerating the steps toward next-generation growth engines.
Chairman Choi is designing the future of SK Group with semiconductors, AI, energy, and biotechnology as the four main pillars and is particularly preparing for a direct confrontation with global competitors through an ecosystem strategy that encompasses hardware, software, and services in the AI field.
The return of Chairman Choi, who has made SK Hynix a global semiconductor giant and led the AI ecosystem, is expected to be a significant turning point for the entire Korean industry.
As projects envisioned by Chairman Choi, including the expansion of the HBM market, a global network for AI data centers, and the nurturing of AI startups materialize, SK Group is projected to establish itself as a global AI infrastructure company, beyond just a manufacturing entity.
Image source: Photo provided by SK Group, Choi Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group / KBS1 'New Year's Special Sunday Diagnosis Live,' Photo: Insight
