The front gate of SK hynix Inc.’s headquarters in Icheon, about 50 kilometers southeast of Seoul, is seen in this photo provided by the company. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s five largest business groups now make up more than half of the country’s total stock market capitalization, reflecting the scale of their influence amid a sharp rally in equities this year.
The combined market value of listed affiliates under Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor, LG and HD Hyundai accounted for 52.2% of total capitalization as of Nov. 3, up from 45.9% at the start of the year, according to data from corporate tracker Leaders Index.
The benchmark KOSPI has jumped nearly 76% to 4,221.87 since January, buoyed by strong gains in semiconductor and energy stocks. The total market value across Korea’s three exchanges reached 3,963.1 trillion won ($2.7 trillion), up from 2,310.9 trillion won at the beginning of the year.
Samsung Group led the rally, with its 17 listed affiliates nearly doubling their combined market cap to 943.4 trillion won, or 23.8% of the total. SK Group followed, with a 185.7% surge to 572.3 trillion won, accounting for 14.4% of the market.
Hyundai Motor Group held a 4.9% share, followed by LG Group at 4.8% and HD Hyundai at 4.3%.
The concentration underscores how the nation’s stock market remains heavily driven by a handful of conglomerates, whose performance—particularly in semiconductors and batteries—continues to dictate the broader direction of Korean equities.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
