A fire in a gas room at SK Hynix prompts evacuation of 3,600 employees, with no casualties reported
Category: Business
At approximately 10:32 a.m. on June 1, 2026, a fire erupted in a gas room connecting the M15 and M15X plants at SK Hynix's Cheongju 4 Campus in North Chungcheong Province, leading to the release of toxic fluorine gas. The fire was quickly extinguished by the sprinkler system, but seven employees were transported to the in-house hospital for evaluation due to exposure to the gas.
According to officials, the fluorine concentration measured at the scene was around 5 parts per million (ppm). At the time of the incident, about ten workers were present, with five reporting symptoms of eye irritation. The other two, who did not exhibit unusual symptoms, were also sent for medical checks as a precaution.
In response to the emergency, SK Hynix evacuated approximately 3,600 employees from the M15 and M15X plants to prevent any potential harm. An SK Hynix representative stated, "We activated our environmental purification equipment to conduct disaster response operations. Once air quality measurements and safety inspections are completed, we will allow employees to return to work." The company is currently investigating the cause of the gas leak, which is presumed to have originated from a gas pipeline.
The M15 and M15X facilities at SK Hynix are integral to the company's semiconductor production, particularly in NAND flash and next-generation DRAM technologies. The M15 plant focuses on NAND flash production, whereas the M15X plant is being developed as a base for high bandwidth memory (HBM) production. The incident occurred in a gas supply area that is not part of the cleanroom where semiconductor manufacturing equipment is located, ensuring that production operations were not disrupted.
After the fire was extinguished within approximately ten minutes, employees were able to return to work after about an hour and a half, following safety checks and air quality assessments. SK Hynix officials confirmed that there were no issues with equipment operation, and production continued as normal.
Fluorine is commonly used in the semiconductor manufacturing process, particularly in etching, which involves using chemical reactions to remove specific materials from the wafer surface. Due to its highly toxic nature, strict safety protocols are in place for handling fluorine and other hazardous materials in semiconductor facilities. The company has reported that the fluorine levels detected were below the regulatory threshold for environmental safety.
Authorities, including the local fire department, are conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire and the subsequent gas leak. As part of their response protocols, SK Hynix is cooperating with these agencies to determine the exact circumstances that led to the incident.
As the investigation proceeds, the company has reassured stakeholders that there will be no production delays as a result of this incident. The swift action taken during the emergency has been credited with preventing any serious injuries or health complications among the employees.
Moving forward, SK Hynix plans to review and reinforce its safety protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future. The company is committed to ensuring the safety of its workers and maintaining operational integrity within its facilities.
The incident shows the value of rigorous safety measures in high-stakes environments like semiconductor manufacturing, where the use of hazardous materials is commonplace. As the semiconductor industry continues to grow, maintaining safety standards will be a priority for companies like SK Hynix to protect both their workforce and production capabilities.
As of now, all employees who were evacuated have been cleared to return to their duties, and the company is expected to provide updates on the investigation's findings in the coming days.