Which company was the first South Korean company to exceed a US$500 billion market capitalization?

Samsung Electronics was the first South Korean company to exceed a US$500 billion market capitalization.

Samsung Electronics passed the US$500 billion mark in 2017 as its shares reached record levels on the Korea Exchange. Strong semiconductor earnings, especially from memory chips, were a major reason investors assigned the company such a high valuation.

Samsung Electronics also operates major smartphone, television, display, appliance, and component businesses. Its semiconductor division supplies memory and other chips used throughout the global technology industry, giving the company exposure to both consumer products and industrial demand.

Samsung Electronics is separate from Samsung Group, the broader South Korean conglomerate. The market-cap figure refers to the publicly traded electronics company, not the combined value of every Samsung-affiliated business.