According to the Korea Exchange (KRX) on Thursday, 90 listed companies, including 58 on the main KOSPI market and 32 on the junior KOSDAQ market, announced cash dividend payments totaling about 7.4 trillion won during the month.
Samsung Electronics accounted for about 2.5 trillion won of the total, while Hyundai Motor approved dividends worth about 700 billion won.
Major banking groups also expanded shareholder returns through share buybacks and share cancellations.
Shinhan Financial Group and KB Financial Group each announced shareholder return measures worth 700 billion won, while Hana Financial Group and Woori Financial Group unveiled plans worth 250 billion won and 150 billion won, respectively.
Separately, six companies disclosed new plans aimed at improving corporate value in July, bringing the cumulative total to 747 since May 2024. Of those, 348 are listed on the main KOSPI market and 399 on the junior market.
Companies that have made such disclosures now account for 84.6 percent of the country's total stock market capitalization. On the KOSPI alone, the figure rises to 88.4 percent.
Looking ahead, another seven companies notified the exchange that they intend to make similar disclosures, exceeding the typical monthly pace of one to three companies during the first half of the year.
The trend has also drawn strong investor interest. The KRX Value-up Index closed at 3,162.13 at the end of July, up 75.9 percent from a year earlier and outperforming both the KOSPI and the KOSPI 200 over the same period. Assets under management for 13 ETFs tracking the index also climbed to 3.4 trillion won, nearly seven times their level at launch.
Looking ahead, the KRX said it will hold regional briefing sessions in September to help high-dividend companies, low price-to-book (P/B) companies and specially listed firms prepare their value-improvement plans. The sessions will offer guidance on drafting the plans, improving P/B ratios, meeting disclosure requirements and strengthening communication with shareholders.
AJP Takeaways
• As of July 2026, 90 South Korean listed companies announced cash dividends totaling 7.4 trillion won ($5.3 billion), according to the Korea Exchange (KRX).
• Samsung Electronics accounted for approximately 2.5 trillion won in dividends, while Hyundai Motor approved about 700 billion won in shareholder payouts.
• Companies that have published Corporate Value Enhancement Plans now represent 84.6 percent of South Korea's total stock market capitalization and 88.4 percent of the KOSPI market capitalization.
• The Korea Exchange Value-up Index rose 75.9 percent year over year to 3,162.13 at the end of July 2026, while assets under management in 13 related exchange-traded funds (ETFs) increased to 3.4 trillion won.
• The Korea Exchange plans to hold regional briefing sessions in September 2026 to encourage more listed companies to adopt Corporate Value Enhancement Plans and strengthen shareholder communication.
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