In a significant market shift, SK Hynix Inc surpassed Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (SSNLF) on Monday to become the highest-valued listed company in South Korea.

At the close of trading, shares of SK Hynix had risen 5.61%, elevating its market capitalization to 2,080.37 trillion won (approximately $1.35 trillion). Meanwhile, shares of Samsung Electronics declined 0.14%, resulting in a market value of 2,066.66 trillion won.

This event marks the first time since 1999 that Samsung Electronics has been displaced from the top position in the South Korean market.

Key Drivers of the Shift

The change in ranking occurs as both major South Korean chipmakers continue to benefit from robust semiconductor demand fueled by the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, with SK Hynix experiencing a notably sharper stock price appreciation than its rival.

SK Hynix has established itself as a leading supplier of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, which are extensively used in AI systems by clients such as Nvidia and Google. This strategic position has made the company one of the primary beneficiaries of the global AI surge.

Year-to-date, the share price of SK Hynix has skyrocketed by over 340%.

In contrast, the stock price of Samsung Electronics has increased by 197.7% so far this year.