SK Hynix reported record Q1 2026 earnings: revenue of 52.6 trillion won, operating profit of 37.6 trillion won. Sales up 198% YoY, profit up 406% — the highest in company history.
Operating profit margin hit 72%, surpassing Nvidia and TSMC. The key driver: early investment in High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), the AI chip darling.
This follows Samsung Electronics' own record results. Together, the two chip giants — dubbed 'Samjeonnix' — are powering South Korea's economic rebound.
South Korea's Q1 GDP grew 1.7% quarter-on-quarter, the fastest in 5.5 years. Manufacturing, led by semiconductors, contributed over half of that growth.
According to Donga, the record profits come as AI chip demand surges. But the editorial warns: 'This is not the time to party.'
SK Hynix's HBM market dominance is a result of preemptive investment. The company now faces pressure to sustain momentum amid global competition.