Samsung Electronics Co. has made history by becoming the first South Korean company to exceed a market capitalization of 1 quadrillion won (approximately $688 billion). The milestone was reached on February 4 as the company’s shares rallied amid a global surge in investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The achievement underscores Samsung’s dominant role in the global semiconductor industry and highlights the growing influence of Asian technology giants as demand for advanced chips accelerates worldwide.
Data from the Korea Exchange (KRX) showed Samsung Electronics’ market value touching 1.002 quadrillion won, with its stock rising to 169,400 won per share, up 1.13% from the previous session.
This is the first time any Korean corporation has crossed the symbolic threshold, reflecting strong confidence from both domestic and international investors. The rally has been particularly notable given ongoing global uncertainties surrounding interest rates and geopolitical tensions.
Since late 2025, Samsung shares have repeatedly set new records after breaking above the 100,000-won level on October 27, 2025. Analysts attribute the momentum to three major factors:
Explosive demand for AI-related semiconductors
Expansion into premium memory segments
Better-than-expected earnings performance
The rapid rise of generative AI, cloud computing, and data centers has triggered unprecedented demand for high-performance semiconductors. As the world’s largest memory chip maker, Samsung has emerged as a primary beneficiary of this trend.
Technology companies across the United States, Europe, and Asia are investing heavily in AI servers, pushing up orders for DRAM, NAND Flash, and especially High Bandwidth Memory (HBM)—a crucial component for AI accelerators.
Samsung has committed tens of billions of dollars to expand production capacity and upgrade manufacturing processes to secure long-term supply contracts with leading AI chip designers and cloud providers.
Samsung Electronics reported historic revenue and operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2025. For the full year:
Net profit reached 45.2 trillion won, up 31.2% year on year
Consolidated revenue achieved double-digit growth
Semiconductor margins improved significantly
These results have reinforced expectations that Samsung is entering a sustained growth phase led by artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
A key pillar of Samsung’s strategy is the High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) segment, essential for modern AI systems. HBM enables ultra-fast data processing and has become indispensable for GPUs and AI accelerators developed by companies such as NVIDIA and AMD.
Samsung is currently:
Expanding next-generation HBM production lines
Strengthening partnerships with global AI chip makers
Accelerating R&D for HBM4 and future architectures
Industry observers believe that leadership in HBM could reshape the competitive landscape, where Samsung is battling rivals such as SK Hynix and Micron.
Samsung’s breakthrough has far-reaching implications:
Boosting the overall Korean stock market
Strengthening regional technology supply chains
Attracting greater foreign investment into Asia
Given Samsung’s heavy weighting in the KOSPI index, the surge in its shares has lifted market sentiment and encouraged inflows from global funds seeking exposure to the AI boom.
Most analysts remain optimistic about Samsung’s prospects, citing:
A multi-year expansion cycle in AI infrastructure
Rising semiconductor demand from EVs and IoT
Diversification of its customer base
However, challenges persist, including intense competition, potential trade restrictions, and cyclical price fluctuations in memory markets.
Despite these risks, Samsung is widely viewed as one of the best-positioned companies to capitalize on the structural shift toward AI-driven computing.
Crossing the 1 quadrillion won valuation mark represents more than a numerical achievement—it signals Samsung Electronics’ transformation into a central pillar of the global AI economy. From consumer electronics roots, the company has evolved into a critical supplier for the world’s digital infrastructure.
With continued investment in advanced semiconductors, particularly HBM, Samsung is expected to remain at the forefront of technological innovation, shaping the next chapter of the global tech industry.
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