"There's no time to explain, just get in"... At the '170,000 won Samsung' level, Samsung Electronics shareholders say, "We’re getting on board with JY"

[Financial News] As the share price of Samsung Electronics broke through 170,000 won to hit a fresh all-time high, an AI-generated image featuring Chairman of Samsung Electronics Lee Jae-yong has gone viral online.

According to the Korea Exchange (KRX) on the 13th, Samsung Electronics closed at 178,600 won, up 6.44% (10,800 won) from the previous session. On the same day, the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) also finished above the 5,520 level, ending near its all-time high of 5,522.27.
Samsung Electronics not only reached the so-called "170,000 won Samsung" level for the first time in its history, but its price surged to the 180,000 won range in the NextTrade after-hours market, extending the rally. As the stock soared, online communities frequented by retail investors were filled with comments such as "Can I finally get out of this stock?" and "Maybe it’s heading for '200,000 won Samsung' next."
Amid this, an AI-generated image portraying Chairman Lee as a "rescuer" also spread rapidly. In the image, he appears in a battlefield-like scene, sitting in a blue sports car and telling investors, "There’s no time to explain, just get in." Shareholders responded with jokes such as, "If the chairman tells us to get in, we get in," and "Is it okay if I sit on your lap?"
Previously, after Samsung Electronics’ share price fell below the 50,000 won range at the end of 2024, it remained stuck in a 60,000 won trading range until around last summer. During that period, message boards for the stock were filled with laments such as "I finally cut my losses" and "When will I ever escape this stock?"
Now, posts showing off profits are pouring in, with comments like "My return is over 100%, so I sold half." At the same time, so-called Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) is also evident, with latecomers asking, "Is it still okay to buy now?" because they are afraid of being left out of the rally.

In the market, analysts point to Samsung’s technological edge in high-bandwidth memory (HBM), a key component for AI semiconductors, as the main driver behind the sharp rally. Expanded supply contracts with global Big Tech companies, combined with expectations for stronger earnings, are seen as pushing the share price higher.
Attention in the market is now turning to whether the stock can break through the 200,000 won mark. However, whether this rally develops into a sustained uptrend or shifts into a consolidation phase will likely depend on Samsung Electronics’ future earnings and supply-demand conditions.
sms@fnnews.com Seong Min-seo Reporter