According to data released earlier this week by the Korea Exchange (KRX) and the Korea Listed Companies Association (KLCA), combined revenue at 634 KOSPI listed companies rose 28.84 percent from a year earlier to 2,000.13 trillion won (US$1.4 trillion).
Operating profit surged 254.15 percent to 388.15 trillion won, while net income jumped 333.30 percent to 386.67 trillion won. The sharp earnings lifted their operating margin to 19.41 percent from 7.06 percent, while the net profit margin climbed to 19.33 percent from 5.75 percent.
The electronics sector, which includes the country's major chipmakers, was the strongest driver of the overall increase. Its revenue climbed 80.47 percent from a year earlier, while operating profit soared 674.92 percent and net income rose 697.01 percent.
Other industries also posted substantial gains. Chemical companies recorded a 203.76 percent increase in operating profit and a 432.14 percent rise in net income, while the general services sector posted gains of 237.04 percent and 361.07 percent, respectively.
But the gains were not across the board. Transportation and warehousing saw operating profit fall 17.71 percent and net income drop 62.53 percent. Earnings also weakened in the electricity and gas and telecommunications sectors.
Earnings strengthened further in the second quarter. Combined revenue reached 1,075.28 trillion won, up 16.27 percent from the previous three months, while operating profit increased 48.56 percent to 231.99 trillion won. Net income climbed 73.70 percent to 245.40 trillion won.
Electronics led the gains, with operating profit rising 56.84 percent from the first quarter and net income climbing 88.64 percent. Net income at chemical companies jumped 139.04 percent, while general services sector posted an 82.01 percent gain.
The stronger results were also reflected in the number of profitable companies. Of the 634 firms surveyed, 519, or 81.86 percent, posted a profit in the first half, up from 485 a year earlier, while the number of loss-making companies fell to 115 from 149.
Financial firms also posted stronger earnings, led by securities companies. Among the 42 firms surveyed, combined operating profit rose 36.07 percent from a year earlier to 41.20 trillion won, while net income increased 32.82 percent to 31.95 trillion won.
Brokerages stood out, with operating profit surging 163.37 percent to 9.21 trillion won and net income jumping 161 percent to 7.09 trillion won. Insurers and financial holding companies also saw operating profit rise 22.9 percent and 20.89 percent, respectively.
Banks were an exception to the broader upswing, with operating profit declining 5.18 percent and net income slipping 4.27 percent from a year earlier.
The financial sector also gained momentum in the April to June period. Operating profit rose 16.82 percent from the first quarter to 22.20 trillion won, while net income increased 18.32 percent to 17.32 trillion won. Brokerages led the gains, with operating profit and net income rising 46.68 percent and 46.66 percent, respectively.
AJP Takeaways
• South Korea's 634 KOSPI-listed nonfinancial companies posted 388.15 trillion won in operating profit and 386.67 trillion won in net income in the first half of 2026, up 254.15 percent and 333.30 percent, respectively, from a year earlier.
• Samsung Electronics and SK hynix were major drivers, but earnings growth extended beyond the two chipmakers. Excluding them, operating profit rose 75.61 percent and net income increased 119.68 percent from the first half of 2025.
• Electronics led the earnings surge, with operating profit jumping 674.92 percent and net income rising 697.01 percent year over year in the January-June 2026 period.
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