SK Hynix and Samsung gained from massive demand for high-bandwidth memory as OpenAI launched its $500bn Stargate project.
Investors pushed SK Hynix shares up 10% and Samsung Electronics up more than 3% in Seoul trading Thursday.
Both companies secured contracts to supply HBM for OpenAI’s supercomputer, boosting their influence in the global memory market.
Samsung dominates global DRAM and NAND flash production, powering data centers, servers, and smartphones worldwide.
SK Hynix ranks second in DRAM output and leads in high-bandwidth memory used in Nvidia’s AI chips.
Together, they control over half the global memory market, shaping prices, capacity, and technology trends in the industry.
HBM Demand Fuels AI Supercomputer Growth
High-bandwidth memory allows AI chips to transfer massive data volumes at extreme speeds, surpassing standard memory capabilities.
OpenAI’s Stargate network will deploy supercomputers across continents, needing hundreds of thousands of HBM stacks monthly.
SK Hynix strengthens its HBM3 leadership, while Samsung accelerates development of next-generation HBM4 to meet demand.
The project may reshape global semiconductor capacity, triggering record capital investment across the AI supply chain.
HBM enables faster training and deployment of large-scale AI models, critical for OpenAI’s expanding computing needs.
Industry analysts expect South Korean suppliers to benefit from long-term contracts and sustained high demand.
Seoul Emerges as Strategic AI Partner
The Stargate project positions South Korea as a regional hub for AI beyond traditional hardware manufacturing.
OpenAI and its U.S. backers strengthen ties with Seoul while reducing reliance on China-sensitive AI technology supply chains.
Washington supports AI infrastructure in politically aligned countries, leveraging Korea’s export-driven memory chip sector for scale and reliability.
Hosting Stargate elevates South Korea’s strategic role in global AI development and secures its position in next-generation technology.
The initiative reinforces U.S.–Korea collaboration while giving Seoul long-term influence in AI and semiconductor ecosystems.
Industry observers note the project may accelerate South Korea’s technological leadership across Asia and worldwide.
