SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - SK hynix has emerged as South Korea’s top-performing company, overtaking Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor in a prominent annual corporate management evaluation.
The memory chip manufacturer claimed the No. 1 position for the first time in six years, earning 622.9 out of a possible 800 points in the latest assessment by CEO Score, a firm that tracks corporate performance. The results were released on Wednesday.
Samsung Electronics held steady in second place for a second consecutive year, scoring 596.0 points. Samsung Biologics rose two spots to third with 590.0 points, while Kia remained in fourth place. Hyundai Motor, which topped the list last year, dropped to fifth.
SK hynix’s rise was fueled by surging demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which drove record profits in 2024. The company earned particularly high marks in the areas of growth, investment, and financial stability.
Now in its ninth year, the CEO Score evaluation assesses South Korea’s top 500 non-financial companies across eight categories, including innovation, global competitiveness, and sustainable growth.
Samsung Electronics led the investment category, spending 88.7 trillion won on facilities and research and development last year — more than four times SK hynix’s 21.6 trillion won.
Samsung Biologics distinguished itself in the global competitiveness category, outperforming larger rivals in profitability. Although its sales accounted for just 4.1 percent of those of China’s Sinopharm, its operating profit margin was 26.2 percentage points higher.
Other companies recognized for excellence across various categories included Kia, shipping firm HMM, game developer Krafton, confectionery company Orion, and renewable energy provider Hanwha Energy.
reporter
Candice Kim
candicekim1121@ajupress.com
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