Korea Tech Daily — 2026-05-30

Top Story

LG, Naver Share Surge on Jensen Huang's Korea Visit Signals AI Cooperation Boost

LG Electronics surged to a record high with a 29.93% jump, while Naver jumped 14.15%, following news that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is visiting South Korea. The market interpreted the high-profile visit as a potential catalyst for AI partnerships and product collaborations between Nvidia and Korean tech giants. This rally underscores investor appetite for Korean companies positioned to benefit from deepening relationships with the world's leading AI chip designer.

Samsung · SK Hynix · LG

Samsung, SK Hynix Invest in Anthropic Amid AI Chip Demand Surge

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have both taken strategic stakes in Anthropic, the developer of Claude AI models, as part of a new funding round. The investment reflects both companies' commitment to deepening ties with leading AI software developers and securing their position in the AI ecosystem as demand for high-end memory chips accelerates globally.

SK Hynix Now Challenging Samsung for Korea's Market Cap Crown

SK Hynix is closely chasing Samsung Electronics, nearly matching its market capitalization as the AI chip boom propels the memory manufacturer higher. Following SK Hynix's recent entry into the $1 trillion market cap club, the company's strong position highlights Korea's dual powerhouse position in semiconductor leadership during the AI era.

Samsung Group Acquires Major Stake in Dunamu from Kakao

Three Samsung Group companies—Samsung Securities, Samsung SDS, and Samsung Card—have become major shareholders by acquiring a 4% stake in Dunamu, the crypto and blockchain platform previously held by Kakao's affiliates. The move signals Samsung's strategic interest in blockchain and digital asset infrastructure at a time when crypto assets are gaining institutional legitimacy.

2 sources

mk.co.kr

mk.co.kr

mk.co.kr

mk.co.kr

Naver · Kakao · LINE

No new data available for this section beyond previously covered material.

Startups & Investment

Korea Q1 Venture Investment Reaches 3.3 Trillion Won, Led by AI and Bio

Korea's venture capital ecosystem showed strong momentum in Q1 2026, with total investment reaching 3.3 trillion won (approximately $2.3 billion USD), up 24.1% year-on-year. ICT services and bio/medical sectors led investment activity, while new venture fund commitments hit a record 4.4 trillion won, signaling strong institutional backing for the startup ecosystem even as global VC competition intensifies.

Policy & Industry

No new government policy announcements or regulatory developments published in the past 24 hours are available at this time.

What to Watch

• Samsung and SK Hynix Q2 2026 earnings (scheduled for late July): Watch for updates on memory chip ASP trends, AI server demand guidance, and capex plans as both race to expand capacity
• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's Korea visit outcomes: Monitor announcements of partnership deals or investment commitments from LG, Samsung, or other Korean tech firms following the high-profile visit
• Korean leverage ETF market stability: Regulators and investors should track the Samsung and SK Hynix single-stock leverage ETF performance, which saw retail trading surge after their debut on May 27

Sources Referenced:

• Seoul Economic Daily (May 30, 2026)
• Korea Herald (May 29, 2026)
• MK (May 28, 2026)
• Seoul Economic Daily (May 18, 2026)