Micron Technology’s Taiwan chip pant (Image courtesy of Micron Facebook)

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Korea Bizwire) – Micron Technology, the world’s third-largest memory chipmaker, is intensifying efforts to recruit South Korean semiconductor engineers in a bid to enhance its position in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market, critical for artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

The company has been conducting interviews in hotels near Seoul’s technology hub, Pangyo, targeting engineers from Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and other industry players.

The roles primarily focus on Micron’s DRAM production and HBM development at its Taichung facility in Taiwan, a key manufacturing hub for the company.

Micron’s recent recruitment drive has also included on-campus hiring events at major South Korean universities, offering “same-day hiring” for applicants. The company is reportedly providing competitive offers, including 10-20% salary increases, housing support, and expedited visa processing.

Positions range from junior engineers to team leaders, and roles in Taiwan, Singapore, and the U.S. have also been proposed.

An employee working at a semiconductor fab (factory) (Image courtesy of SK hynix)

This talent acquisition push reflects Micron’s strategic pivot to HBM production as it seeks to compete with industry leaders SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics. Both companies dominate the HBM market, with SK Hynix supplying a majority of Nvidia’s HBM3E chips and preparing for next-generation HBM4 production in 2024.

In comparison, Micron holds just 9% of the HBM market, trailing SK Hynix at 53% and Samsung at 38%.

Micron has begun ramping up HBM3E production and aims to accelerate development of HBM4, targeting mass production within two years. However, the company’s decision to bypass HBM3 in favor of HBM3E presents challenges, necessitating additional resources and expertise.

Financial pressures add urgency to Micron’s recruitment efforts. The company’s fiscal Q2 2025 revenue is projected to fall short of Wall Street expectations by over 10%, and its earnings per share are anticipated to miss forecasts by 25%.

Despite a doubling of HBM revenue in the previous quarter, Micron’s CEO Sanjay Mehrotra has emphasized the continued supply constraints in HBM and the company’s significant capital investments in HBM technology and R&D.

South Korea’s semiconductor industry is closely monitoring Micron’s actions, concerned about potential talent drain and its impact on HBM competitiveness.

While companies like Samsung and SK Hynix are aware of the poaching, they face challenges in retaining individual employees, leading to increased focus on employee incentives such as performance bonuses and improved workplace culture.

As Micron intensifies its recruitment in South Korea, the battle for dominance in the HBM market underscores the high stakes in the AI-driven semiconductor industry.

Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)