The combined economic contribution of South Korea's 100 largest privately owned companies by sales totaled 1,731.16 trillion won last year, up 7.4 percent from 1,612.47 trillion won a year earlier.
But their contribution ratio slipped to 75.6 percent from 76.2 percent, even as their combined sales rose 8.3 percent from a year earlier to 2,290.85 trillion won.
The figure is calculated based on payments to suppliers, salaries and compensation paid to employees, taxes paid to the government, dividends paid to shareholders, interest paid to creditors, and corporate social contributions.
By company, Samsung Electronics led with 177.25 trillion won, up 12.5 percent from a year earlier. The semiconductor giant was followed by Hyundai Motor (122.24 trillion won), Kia (92.07 trillion won), LG Electronics (77.10 trillion won), Hyundai Mobis (56.21 trillion won), SK On (52.33 trillion won), Hanwha (44.93 trillion won), SK hynix (43.63 trillion won), GS Caltex (42.83 trillion won) and SK Energy (37.35 trillion won).
Payments to suppliers accounted for the largest share, totaling 1,405.75 trillion won or 81.2 percent of the total, while shareholder returns saw the largest increase, with dividends rising 12.1 percent from a year earlier to 30.65 trillion won.
Samsung Electronics also ranked first in shareholder returns, paying 11.11 trillion won in dividends and becoming the only company to return more than 10 trillion won to shareholders.
Industry officials said shareholder-friendly management is increasingly seen as a key element of competitiveness, as companies expand dividends and share cancellations amid improved performance.
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