Samsung and SK Hynix have collectively lost 27 engineers to CXMT (ChangXin Memory), China's advanced memory chip maker, with most departures occurring within the past three years.

At least 27 veteran engineers from Samsung Electronics and SK hynix moved to Chinese memory chipmaker CXMT, but 26 have since left after staying an average of just 2.9 years, according to an analysis by South Korean lawmaker Rep. Choi Soo-jin of the ruling People Power Party. Her office analyzed publicly available career records, including LinkedIn profiles.

The engineers had spent an average of 15.4 years at the Korean chipmakers, with six holding more than two decades of experience in the semiconductor industry.

Their expertise spanned circuit design, process integration, equipment, yield analysis and advanced packaging, with some having specialized experience in high-bandwidth memory and other advanced memory technologies.

Recruiters offered some Korean engineers salary increases ranging from 60 percent to twice their previous compensation, along with housing support, education benefits and employment guarantees of three to five years.

"Semiconductor technology is not just about blueprints, but the experience and know-how accumulated by people over 20 or 30 years," Choi said, calling for stronger measures to track and retain key semiconductor personnel.