Apple extends hotel stays in South Korea amid Samsung and SK Hynix develpments
Apple has stationed executives in South Korean hotels close to Samsung and SK Hynix factories as the company works to secure long-term memory chip supplies. The move comes amid a global shortage of DRAM, with RAM prices surging up to 300% since mid-2025.
The team is negotiating multi-year contracts for LPDDR5X modules required in upcoming iPhone models, currently costing roughly $70 per 12GB unit more than double the price at the start of 2025.
According to local reports, Apple’s purchasing teams are residing in hotels in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, within easy access to semiconductor plants. The strategy aims to ensure a stable supply of critical components as AI-driven demand continues to strain the global memory market.
Apple is not the only tech company taking extreme measures. Dell, Google, and Amazon have also established extended stays in South Korea to secure memory chips. The high demand has even benefited local hotels, with business accommodations like Doubletree and Nine Tree in Pangyo seeing significant increases in long-term bookings.