SK Hynix and Samsung gained sharply after OpenAI confirmed them as key suppliers for its $500bn Stargate project.
SK Hynix shares soared about 10%, while Samsung Electronics climbed more than 3% in Thursday’s Seoul trading.
Both firms will deliver high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips essential for powering the Stargate global AI supercomputing network.
Samsung remains the world’s largest memory producer, dominating DRAM and NAND flash markets across devices and data centers.
SK Hynix ranks second in DRAM output but leads in HBM, the ultra-fast chips critical for Nvidia’s AI processors.
Together, the two Korean titans control over half the global memory market, influencing supply, pricing, and technology shifts.
High-Bandwidth Memory Secures AI Growth
HBM enables Nvidia’s processors to transfer vast data at ultra-high speeds, driving advanced model training and deployment.
Stargate’s network of AI supercomputers across continents will demand hundreds of thousands of HBM stacks every month.
That surge in demand will cement SK Hynix’s dominance in HBM3 chips and accelerate Samsung’s entry into HBM4.
Industry analysts expect this expansion to reshape semiconductor capacity worldwide, locking in long-term demand for advanced memory.
The unprecedented scale of OpenAI’s investment signals massive capital spending across the entire artificial intelligence ecosystem.
South Korea Emerges as AI Stronghold
The Stargate project strengthens Seoul’s ambition to become a central hub in global technology beyond hardware production.
Hosting one of the largest AI infrastructure efforts ever conceived elevates South Korea’s position in the digital economy.
The initiative also deepens ties with Washington while reducing reliance on China-sensitive links in the AI supply chain.
US policymakers have urged building critical technology facilities in allied nations, and Korea offers scale plus political alignment.
South Korea’s export-driven memory industry now stands at the forefront of the global race for artificial intelligence supremacy.
