SK Group Chairman Warns Memory Shortage Could Threaten PC and Smartphone Makers

• February 23, 2026

At a recent business forum in Washington, Chey Tae-won, chairman of South Korea’s SK Group, addressed the far-reaching impacts of the current memory shortage on the global semiconductor market. He emphasized that this scarcity is fundamentally altering the dynamics of the industry beyond just the artificial intelligence segment.

Memory Deficit Poses Major Risks to Device Makers

According to Chey, the deficit in memory supplies is deeply affecting manufacturers of personal computers and smartphones. These companies are struggling to produce the volume of devices needed to meet demand, a situation that threatens their continued operation. The scarcity of key memory components is creating a bottleneck, complicating production schedules and supply chain stability.

The SK Group chairman highlighted that this shortage does not merely pose a challenge for high-tech AI applications, but more broadly disrupts traditional consumer electronics hardware development. The supply constraints mean that some PC and smartphone producers may face insurmountable difficulties, potentially forcing them to exit the market in the near future.

This outlook from a major industry leader underscores the widespread consequences of memory availability problems, which ripple through interconnected sectors reliant on semiconductor technologies. It also reflects growing concern about how shortages in fundamental components impact innovation and production capacity globally.

As memory chips remain critical building blocks for a vast range of electronic devices, the persistent deficiency could compel companies to re-evaluate their strategies, supply chains, and product roadmaps to mitigate risk. Industry watchers and stakeholders will be closely monitoring developments as this shortage continues to evolve.

SK Group’s chairman highlights how the ongoing memory shortage is reshaping the semiconductor sector and risks wiping out some PC and smartphone manufacturers.