Amidst the continued boom in the global semiconductor industry, South Korea's two major conglomerates, Samsung and SK, are experiencing unprecedented market capitalization growth. Data shows that as of February 26, 2026, the combined market capitalization of these two tech giants has exceeded 2600 trillion won (approximately US$1.82 trillion), surpassing 60% of the total market capitalization of the South Korean stock market for the first time, reaching an astonishing 61.29%, a record high.
This milestone achievement is primarily attributed to the continued rise in memory chip prices and strong global demand for AI infrastructure. Compared to the same period last year, Samsung's market capitalization surged by 200.96%, while SK's performance was even more impressive, with a growth rate of 318.7%. In just the past year, the combined market capitalization growth of the two groups reached 1846 trillion won (approximately US$1.29 trillion), representing the main driver of the South Korean stock market's overall growth.
Semiconductors are undoubtedly the core engine of this growth. Samsung Electronics' stock price surged 282% within a year, pushing its market capitalization to 1290.5 trillion won. SK Hynix's increase was even more astonishing, reaching 430% and climbing to 783.3 trillion won. These two semiconductor giants alone accounted for 39.88% of the total market capitalization of the South Korean KOSPI market, exceeding the 33.41% share of the seven largest tech giants in the US S&P 500, highlighting the deep dependence of the South Korean economy on the semiconductor industry.
It's worth noting that other companies in the semiconductor supply chain also performed exceptionally well. Samsung Electro-Mechanics' stock price rose 82.94% this year, and SK Square, an intermediate holding company of the SK Group, saw an 84.51% increase, both surpassing the performance of the group's flagship companies during the same period, reflecting the capital market's comprehensive optimism about the entire semiconductor supply chain.
This phenomenon has also sparked heated discussions in the market about the structure of the South Korean economy. Currently, the Samsung Group has 17 listed companies in South Korea with a total market capitalization of 1650.92 trillion won; the SK Group has 21 listed companies with a total market capitalization of 977.19 trillion won. The two major conglomerates continue to strengthen their dominance in the South Korean stock market, their influence extending far beyond traditional manufacturing, becoming a key driver of South Korea's economic growth. With the acceleration of global digital transformation, South Korea's semiconductor industry is expected to maintain its leading edge, but it also faces the potential risk of excessive industry concentration.
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