The “bright expressions” of SK Hynix employees in KBS 2TV’s ‘Documentary 3 Days’ are currently taking the internet by storm!
On the May 11th episode titled “First Encounter with the World – Icheon SK Hynix 72 Hours,” viewers got a glimpse into the daily lives of employees at the Icheon campus and the HBM development and production sites. The Icheon campus was introduced as a massive industrial hub where about 30,000 people move organically across R&D, production, logistics, and quality verification.
Cleanroom management staff spent their days checking equipment and work paths, while frequent meetings were held to boost productivity. Employees compared the process of improving small efficiencies to “gleaning.”
The post-processing section showcased tests to ensure semiconductor products work stably in extreme environments. One engineer described their role as being like a “semiconductor doctor,” showing a strong sense of responsibility.
The broadcast also shared stories of long-term employees who persevered through tough times, including those who endured unpaid leave and power-saving periods, and senior engineers who start their days at the company cafeteria at dawn.
What really caught the viewers’ eyes, however, were the employees’ expressions. As most of the staff appeared bright and relaxed even while working, clips of these scenes quickly spread across online communities and social media.
Netizens reacted with comments like, “Was it actually possible to have a smiling face at work?”, “The majesty of financial therapy,” “It’s amazing how happy everyone looks,” “They don’t look like they’re at work; they look like characters in a drama,” and “I can’t help but feel envious.”
Meanwhile, SK Hynix’s operating profit forecast for this year is soaring thanks to the semiconductor boom. With the bonus calculation method agreed upon by labor and management last year (10% of operating profit), there are projections that employees could receive an average bonus in the hundreds of millions of won early next year, making them the ultimate object of envy for office workers.
