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Controversy is growing over Hynix Semiconductor's plan to provide 66-nanometer process technology to ProMOS Technologies, its Taiwanese strategic business partner.

Some Korean chip makers on Monday expressed concern about the plan, saying that since Taiwanese chip makers have had a hard time developing the 60-nano level production process, the provision of the technology by Hynix will lead to greatly reducing the technological gap between Korean and Taiwanese companies.

For its part, Hynix argued that its transfer of the 66-nano process is not a technology leak but a technology export. A company executive said that the technology is no more than a production process for chips which it has already succeeded in mass producing.

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy said that Hynix will report the contract with ProMOS to the ministry soon, and it will decide whether to ban the transfer of the technology after reviewing the deal.

(englishnews@chosun.com )