Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong smiles during a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, 31 October 2025. File. Photo by JUNG YEON-JE / EPA
Feb. 4 (Asia Today) — Samsung Electronics’ common shares became the first single stock in South Korea to reach a market capitalization of 1,000 trillion won ($690.7 billion) as the benchmark KOSPI hovered near the 5,300 level.
The milestone came about two weeks after Samsung’s combined common and preferred shares exceeded 1,000 trillion won in market value.
The Korea Exchange said Samsung Electronics closed Wednesday at 169,100 won ($116.80), up 0.96% from the previous session. The shares have gained 31.6% from their closing level on Jan. 2 of 128,500 won.
Samsung opened lower, then turned higher late in the morning. After moving into positive territory in early afternoon trading, the stock set an intraday record of 169,400 won.
Individual investors bought a net 135.1 billion won ($93.3 million) of Samsung shares and institutional investors bought a net 650.2 billion won ($449.1 million), helping push the stock to the 1,000 trillion won threshold.
Analysts have linked the rally to rising memory prices amid expanding global investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure. Samsung posted 20 trillion won ($13.8 billion) in operating profit in the fourth quarter of last year, setting a quarterly record, and brokerages have forecast annual operating profit exceeding 130 trillion won ($89.8 billion) this year.
Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong attended a corporate roundtable on youth employment and regional investment expansion at the Blue House on Wednesday. The meeting included leaders from South Korea’s top conglomerates and marked President Lee Jae-myung’s first major gathering this year with business chiefs.
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260204010001675