SK Hynix to Pay 60% of Bonuses in Stock, Raise Wages 6.3%

Tentative wage deal reached

SK Hynix and its labor union have reached a tentative wage and collective bargaining agreement under which 60% of performance bonuses would be paid in company stock rather than cash. Of that stock portion, 40% can be sold the day after it is received, while 20% will be subject to selling restrictions.

Industry officials said on Aug. 20 that management and the union unveiled the tentative agreement at an emergency meeting of union delegates that afternoon.

The proposal calls for 40% of the profit-sharing bonus, or PS, to be paid in cash and the remaining 60% in company stock. That stock-based portion would consist of 40% in shares that can be sold immediately and 20% in deferred shares subject to selling restrictions.

Last year, SK Hynix and the union agreed to set aside 10% of operating profit as the source of PS bonuses and to scrap the cap on those payouts. They also agreed to keep that framework in place for 10 years. At the time, however, they did not specify how the bonuses would be paid.

The two sides also agreed to raise wages by 6.3%, expand the existing pension benefit to as much as 400,000 won ($289), increase shift-work allowances, expand Hi-Well welfare fund points, add and broaden family-event and funeral support, and expand housing loan support.

The union held a delegates' meeting for employees at 2 p.m. on Aug. 20 and briefed them on the 2026 wage negotiations. Delegates were to vote after the meeting on whether to approve the tentative agreement.

Lee Seul-gi, Hankyung.com reporter seulkee@hankyung.com