SK Hynix shares climbed on Monday, allowing the memory chipmaker to overtake Samsung Electronics as South Korea’s most valuable listed company.
The milestone reflects the company’s rapid growth during the artificial intelligence boom. Strong demand for advanced memory chips has transformed SK Hynix into one of the biggest beneficiaries of global AI investment.
SK Hynix Market Value Surpasses Samsung
SK Hynix shares rose 3.7% to 2.8 million won. The increase lifted the company’s market capitalization to approximately 2,082 trillion won, equivalent to around $1.3 trillion.
Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics shares declined 1.4%. Its market value fell to about 2,081 trillion won, excluding preferred shares.
The narrow difference placed SK Hynix ahead of its longtime rival in the South Korean stock market.
AI Demand Drives SK Hynix Growth
SK Hynix has benefited from surging demand for high-performance memory chips used in artificial intelligence systems.
The company is one of the world’s leading producers of high-bandwidth memory, commonly known as HBM. These advanced chips play a critical role in AI processors by helping them handle large amounts of data more efficiently.
SK Hynix, Samsung and Micron are among the few major companies capable of producing HBM chips at scale.
Nvidia Partnership Strengthens Its Position
SK Hynix is also a major supplier to Nvidia, the world’s leading producer of artificial intelligence chips.
The South Korean company recently announced that it had delivered samples of its advanced HBM4 memory to its largest customers.
HBM4 represents the next generation of high-bandwidth memory technology. It is expected to support more powerful AI processors and increasingly demanding data-center applications.
Its early progress in HBM4 production could help SK Hynix maintain its competitive advantage as global AI infrastructure spending continues to grow.
SK Hynix Shares Surge More Than 340%
SK Hynix shares have gained more than 340% this year, extending the strong advance recorded during 2025.
The rally reflects investor confidence in the company’s role within the rapidly expanding AI supply chain.
Demand for AI accelerators, data centers and advanced computing systems has increased the need for specialized memory products. This trend has allowed SK Hynix to achieve stronger growth and challenge Samsung’s position at the top of South Korea’s corporate market.
From Near Bankruptcy to Market Leader
The company’s rise marks a dramatic turnaround from its position two decades ago.
At that time, SK Hynix was close to bankruptcy and was considering possible takeover offers. It later recovered by strengthening its semiconductor operations and investing heavily in advanced memory technology.
Its transformation into South Korea’s most valuable company highlights how the global AI boom has reshaped the semiconductor industry.
