Samsung and SK Hynix Surge After OpenAI Chip Partnership Boosts AI Optimism
Shares of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix soared on Thursday after OpenAI announced a major partnership with the two South Korean chipmakers to support its massive Stargate artificial intelligence data centre project in the United States.
Samsung Electronics jumped 4.7%, reaching its highest level in more than four years, while SK Hynix surged 12% to an all-time high, adding a combined $37 billion in market capitalization.
The rally also lifted South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI index by more than 3%, marking a new record.
MARKET REACTION AND ANALYST INSIGHT
Analysts said the partnership could dispel earlier market fears about potential declines in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chip prices amid rising competition.
“Such worries will be easily resolved by this strategic partnership,” wrote Jeff Kim, analyst at KB Securities, predicting a sharp rise in chip demand driven by the Stargate project.
Kim added that, since Stargate is a key U.S. government-backed initiative led by President Donald Trump, the collaboration could also positively influence trade negotiations between Washington and Seoul.
DETAILS OF THE PARTNERSHIP
The deal — part of the $500 billion Stargate project aimed at building next-generation AI infrastructure — will see OpenAI, Samsung, and SK Hynix jointly work on semiconductor procurement and the construction of two data centres in South Korea, referred to as a “Korean-style Stargate.”
Each data centre will start with a 20-megawatt capacity, and Seoul hopes the project will help position South Korea as an Asian AI hub, given that the country already ranks second globally in the number of paying ChatGPT subscribers after the United States.
WIDER IMPACT ON SAMSUNG AFFILIATES
Other Samsung affiliates also gained sharply on the news:
-
Samsung SDI rose on expectations of increased demand for advanced power systems.
-
Samsung C&T and Samsung SDS advanced after confirming new roles in AI data centre construction and infrastructure partnerships with OpenAI.
STRONGER EXPORT OUTLOOK
The AI-driven semiconductor boom has been a key factor in South Korea’s economic rebound, with exports rising in September at their fastest pace in 14 months, defying concerns about the impact of U.S. tariffs.
Seoul hopes to finalize a trade agreement with the United States by late October, following a preliminary deal reached in July that would lower tariffs on South Korean imports in exchange for a $350 billion U.S. investment package.
However, officials have said talks have stalled over concerns about foreign exchange risks and the structure of the investment commitments.

