The chairman of SK Group warned that a global shortage of memory chips could evolve into a geopolitical struggle as more countries move to secure their own supplies. SK Group is the parent company of memory-chip manufacturer SK Hynix.
In recent months, prices for memory chips have surged because supply has not kept pace with demand generated by the AI boom. According to the SK Group chairman, this has produced “near‑chaotic lobbying” in which countries increasingly regard access to memory as an “economic security” issue.
He added that governments “will start pressuring other governments soon,” indicating that access to hardware could become a lever in international relations.
The article notes that nations have long considered advanced computing chips to be matters of national security. The recent rise in hardware costs, however, risks adding a new dimension: more expensive components could fuel inflationary pressure, creating additional concerns for global policymakers.
In short, the SK Group chairman cautions that AI-driven memory demand and the resulting price increases carry not only industrial but also geopolitical implications as states act to protect their own supply chains.
