SK Hynix posted a new-hire open-recruitment notice on June 17 with all previous 'four-year bachelor's degree or above' educational requirements removed. High school graduates may now apply for research-and-development roles, and junior-college graduates may apply for office and technical positions beyond the factory floor, according to NewsPim, Hankyung, and Financial News.

Application criteria and recruitment scale

The company said it will select candidates based on job competencies, experience, and cultural fit. The recruitment covers major functions including chip design and is expected to run into the hundreds of candidates—unusually large for a rolling hire cycle. Applications are accepted June 17–23.

Industry observers see the move as reflecting SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won's 'AI-era talent' philosophy—prioritizing real competence over academic credentials. Some analysts describe it as a strategy to secure capable people early, without degree barriers, in an industry where hands-on skills can be built rapidly.

The measure is seen as part of a broader trend toward loosening credential-centrism in Korean conglomerate hiring, and observers are watching whether other large companies follow suit.