Because SK Hynix is listed in South Korea, it’s not as simple as typing it into Robinhood.

Here are the best ways to buy SK Hynix directly.

1. The Euro Ticker: HY9H (GDR)

You can buy the stock directly in euros as a Global Depositary Receipt (GDR) which represents exactly 1 original underlying common share of SK hynix.

• Ticker: HY9H
• Exchanges: LSE, FWB, GETTEX and other European exchanges.
• Pros: Traded during Western market hours.

2. The Direct Korean Stock: 000660:KS

Pure play. Buying the original stock.

• Ticker: 000660
• Pros: Most liquid, lowest spreads, directly tracks the exact price movement and local market hype.
• Cons: You have to trade during Seoul market hours and deal with KRW currency conversion fees.

3. Broad Korean ETFs (Like EWY)

SK Hynix and Samsung make up over 50% of the Korean market cap, buying Korea = buying memory chips.

• EWY (iShares MSCI South Korea ETF) - the most liquid US-listed ETF for Korea. SK Hynix share is 23%.
• FLKR (Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF) - lower-expense-ratio alternative to EWY that tracks the same major players. SK Hynix share is 30%.

4. DRAM ETF

• DRAM (The Roundhill Memory ETF) offers pure memory exposure. SK Hynix market share is 26%.

💡 Which Brokerages Support the Direct Tickers?

You can't buy HY9H or 000660:KS on basic retail apps like Robinhood or WeBull. You need a broker with international market access:

• Interactive Brokers (IBKR): The best option. You get access to both the Korea Exchange (KRX) for 000660.KS and the London/Frankfurt exchanges for HY9H. Their currency conversion rates (USD/EUR to KRW) are also the cheapest in the industry.
• Fidelity: You can trade the Korean stock directly, but you have to enroll your account in "International Trading" first. Note that commissions for trading directly on the KRX can be steep here compared to IBKR.
• Charles Schwab: Similar to Fidelity, Schwab Global Accounts allow access to foreign exchanges and the GDRs, but you usually have to place the trade via their global desk or specific global platform.
• Degiro / Fineco / Saxo Bank (For Europeans): Excellent access to the European GDR (HY9H) on the Frankfurt or London exchanges with relatively low fees.

TL;DR: Use Euro GDR ticker HY9H or buy the DRAM / EWY / FLKR ETF. If you want the real deal with the lowest fees, open an Interactive Brokers account and buy 000660.KS directly on the Seoul exchange.

Good luck fellow HBM enjoyers!