A fire at SK Hynix’s Cheongju chip plant triggered a hydrogen fluoride gas leak on June 1, forcing the evacuation of roughly 3,600 employees. The incident, which began around 10:32 a.m. local time in a gas room on the sixth floor, was contained within hours, but not before six to seven workers were hospitalized for eye irritation related to the toxic exposure.
What happened at Cheongju
The fire broke out in a gas room on the sixth floor of the facility, impacting the M15 and M15X production lines. Automated sprinkler systems extinguished the flames quickly, but the sprinkler activation is what apparently triggered the hydrogen fluoride leak.
SK Hynix evacuated approximately 3,600 workers as a precautionary measure. The affected employees who reported health issues were treated, and no severe or lasting effects were noted. By roughly 1:38 p.m. local time, the residual gas had been cleared from the facility.
Employees were allowed to re-enter only after a thorough return inspection and safety checks were completed. SK Hynix stated that it followed its standard safety procedures throughout the event.
