Samsung Electronics shares gained 3.1% to ₩279,500 on Friday, extending gains as investors positioned ahead of a board meeting to approve a landmark shareholder return program.
The program, valued between 90 trillion and 110 trillion won ($76 billion), is expected to be structured primarily as special cash dividends, with Samsung allocating 50% of its free cash flow to shareholders. KB Securities noted the possibility of a dividend exceeding ₩100 trillion, potentially pushing the stock into the ₩300,000 range.
The announcement follows a surge in memory chip demand driven by artificial intelligence applications, which has supported earnings growth amid a prolonged memory shortage. Samsung’s move aligns with a broader industry trend, as rival SK Hynix revealed a ₩40 trillion buyback plan earlier in the week. The combined initiatives underscore a shift toward higher capital returns among South Korea’s major tech firms.
The KOSPI index edged up 0.7%, with SK Hynix shares rising about 3% in tandem. The board meeting, scheduled for later on Friday, is expected to formalize the capital return strategy, which ranks among the largest ever undertaken by a South Korean company.
