SK Hynix has overtaken Samsung Electronics to become South Korea’s most valuable listed company, reflecting the growing importance of artificial intelligence-driven semiconductor demand in the global technology industry.
According to market data, shares of SK Hynix rose 5.7% on Monday, taking the company’s market capitalization to approximately 2,082.5 trillion won ($1.35 trillion). In comparison, Samsung Electronics’ market capitalization stood at around 2,081.3 trillion won, excluding preferred shares. The milestone marks a significant moment for South Korea’s semiconductor sector, where Samsung has long dominated market value rankings.
The sharp rise in SK Hynix’s valuation has been driven primarily by increasing global demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips used in artificial intelligence systems. HBM chips are considered essential for AI workloads because they provide faster data processing and higher memory bandwidth required for large-scale AI models and data centers.
SK Hynix has become a major supplier of HBM chips for global technology companies including NVIDIA and Google. As investments in AI infrastructure continue to rise globally, demand for advanced memory chips has significantly increased, benefiting companies specializing in AI-focused semiconductor technologies.
The company’s stock has surged more than 340% this year, making it one of the strongest-performing semiconductor firms globally. The growth also highlights the increasing shift within the semiconductor industry toward specialized AI hardware and memory technologies, which are becoming critical components for generative AI systems, cloud computing platforms, and advanced computing infrastructure.
For SK Hynix, the achievement represents a major turnaround. Nearly two decades ago, the company faced severe financial difficulties and debt-related challenges. Since then, it has steadily expanded its semiconductor capabilities and strengthened its position in the global memory chip market.
The development also underscores the changing competitive dynamics in the semiconductor industry, where AI-related chipmakers are gaining stronger investor attention amid rapid expansion in artificial intelligence technologies worldwide.
