SK hynix Ranks First in Management Evaluation for Second Year... Samsung Electronics Maintains Second Place

SK hynix Dominates in Rapid Growth, Investment,
and Sound Management Categories

SK hynix has been named the top company for two consecutive years in the "Great Company" evaluation, which targets the top 500 companies in Korea. Benefiting from the AI semiconductor boom, the company recorded its highest-ever sales last year since its founding, achieving rapid growth and receiving high marks for investment and sound management as well.

On May 20, CEO Score, a corporate data research institute, conducted a management evaluation of 249 non-financial companies among the top 500 by sales in 2026 that submitted business reports. SK hynix ranked first overall, earning the highest score of 648.3 out of a possible 800 points.

On the 20th, CEO Score announced the top management evaluation companies among the top 500 companies by sales in 2026. CEO Score

Each year, CEO Score announces the results of its corporate management evaluation, analyzing eight areas including rapid growth, investment, and global competitiveness among Korea's top 500 companies. In this year's 10th evaluation, SK hynix once again placed first overall for the second year in a row, receiving high praise in categories such as rapid growth, investment, and sound management. Samsung Electronics maintained second place with a score of 615.4 points, the same as last year.

Hyundai Motor Company ranked fifth overall for the second consecutive year with 563.9 points. Other companies that made it into the "Top 10 Great Companies" include Naver (557.8 points), Kia (557.6 points), Samsung C&T (549.5 points), Samsung Biologics (549.2 points), and Kakao (523.5 points).

The top five companies in the investment category were Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, Kakao, Hyundai Motor Company, and LG Chem. Last year, Samsung Electronics invested a total of 89.9079 trillion won, with 52.1531 trillion won in facility investment and 37.7548 trillion won in research and development (R&D). This was the largest total investment among all surveyed companies. SK hynix also focused heavily on R&D, with facility investment increasing by 71.52% compared to 2024 to reach 28.5793 trillion won, and R&D investment up 35.89% to 6.7325 trillion won, totaling 35.3118 trillion won invested in research and development.

In the corporate governance category, Kakao and KT&G tied for first place, followed by LG Innotek and HD Hyundai Marine Solution in joint third, and Naver in fifth place.

In the sound management category, SK hynix, Samsung Biologics, Samyang Foods, Krafton, and APR were selected as outstanding companies. SK hynix, which topped this category, recorded an operating margin of 48.59%, earnings per share of 62,044 won, interest coverage ratio of 51.11 times, and a debt ratio of 45.95% last year.

In the job creation category, Seoyon E-Hwa, SK hynix, Naver, SK Incheon Petrochem, and LIG Defense & Aerospace were recognized as outstanding companies.

In the social contribution and environmental protection category, LG Household & Health Care, Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Department Store, LS ELECTRIC, and KT&G were selected as outstanding companies.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.