South Korea Says AI Wealth Must Reach Public as Kospi Jumps 86% in 2026
Updated
Updated · CNBC · May 23
South Korea Says AI Wealth Must Reach Public as Kospi Jumps 86% in 2026
1 articles · Updated · CNBC · May 23
Bae Kyung-hoon said AI-driven wealth must benefit the wider public, warning the technology could deepen inequality and fuel job losses if gains stay concentrated.
Samsung's labor dispute underscored that risk: an 18-day strike was suspended after government intervention, and workers are voting through May 27 on a tentative bonus deal.
Bae said such clashes may recur as more AI-era giants emerge, pointing to concerns over Hyundai's use of Atlas robots in manufacturing and urging dialogue to manage labor tensions.
The debate comes as AI enthusiasm lifts markets—Samsung is up nearly 144% this year, SK Hynix almost 200%, and the Kospi more than 86%—raising questions about gains concentrated in chipmakers.
Seoul is also pushing beyond semiconductors into 'physical AI' in robots, vehicles and industrial systems, framing that expansion around an 'AI-inclusive society' where no one is left behind.
As AI profits soar, will South Korea's new profit-sharing deals be enough to prevent widespread industrial conflict?
Is South Korea's 'light-touch' AI law a global model for innovation or a risky gamble with citizens' jobs and rights?
KOSPI Soars 75–86% in 2026: South Korea’s AI Boom, Wealth Debate, and Labor Tensions Reshape Global Markets
Overview
In early May 2026, the KOSPI surged between 75% and 86% year-to-date, making South Korea the world’s best-performing major stock market. This explosive rally was fueled by the global AI boom, which boosted the prospects of memory chip giants like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Real earnings growth, highlighted by Samsung’s 48-fold profit increase, provided a solid foundation for the market’s rise. As a result, South Korea’s market capitalization soared to nearly $4.28 trillion, elevating it to the world’s eighth-largest stock market. Growing investor confidence and bullish global brokerages suggest the KOSPI’s upward momentum may continue.