SK Hynix is poised to surpass a market value of $1 trillion, following closely after Samsung Electronics achieved this milestone earlier this month. This surge is attributed to a robust demand for artificial intelligence (AI) technology, positioning South Korea as a crucial player in Asia’s expanding AI sector.
In recent months, SK Hynix’s stock has skyrocketed over 200% in 2025 alone, following an extraordinary increase of 274% just a year prior. The strong performance is largely driven by heightened demand for both conventional memory chips and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, which are essential for AI server applications.
If SK Hynix successfully reaches the trillion-dollar threshold, it would make South Korea the first nation outside the United States to have more than one company valued at $1 trillion. Market analysts have suggested that current trading patterns are heavily influenced by “FOMO” (fear of missing out) regarding AI-related stocks, with particular attention being paid to companies in Japan and Korea.
Samsung, which recently became Korea’s inaugural trillion-dollar company, is currently the largest company in Asia, outstripped only by Taiwan’s TSMC, which boasts a market value exceeding $1.83 trillion. The performance of these three semiconductor firms has highlighted their pivotal role in the global AI supply chain.
The South Korean benchmark KOSPI index has surged dramatically, hitting record highs as both institutional and retail investors ramp up their investments in tech sectors. The KOSPI has climbed over 86% this year alone, building on an impressive 75% increase seen in 2025, marking its strongest performance since 1999. Since the beginning of 2025, it has emerged as the best-performing major stock market globally.
In contrast to its growth, SK Hynix’s market value stands at approximately $948 billion, a remarkable leap from under $100 billion just 16 months ago. This puts it in a close race with retail giant Walmart and Berkshire Hathaway, the investment company led by prominent investor Warren Buffett.
On a recent trading day, SK Hynix shares experienced a slight decline of 0.48%, while Samsung saw an increase of over 3%, attaining a record high. Meanwhile, the broader market registered a gain of 0.9%, remaining near the peak it achieved earlier in the week.
