"As the stock price rose, retail investors flocked in"... Samsung Electronics shareholders reach 7.97 million, or one in five adults

[Financial News] Samsung Electronics' retail shareholders came close to 8 million in the first half of this year. Based on South Korea's adult population of 43 million, that means one in five adults holds Samsung Electronics shares.
The increase in retail shareholders appears to have been driven by a mix of strong stock-investing sentiment amid the KOSPI's gains and profit-taking following Samsung Electronics' share price rise.
In its semiannual report released on the 14th, Samsung Electronics said retail shareholders totaled 7,971,242 as of the end of June. That is the highest level on record, up by about 2.92 million from 5,049,085 a year earlier. Retail shareholders held 66.24% of Samsung Electronics' total outstanding shares.
Compared with 4,195,927 at the end of last year, the figure rose by about 3.77 million in just six months.
The sharp rise in Samsung Electronics' share price this year is also seen as having drawn in more individual investors.
Samsung Electronics shares weakened in the second half of 2024. The average price of common shares fell from 84,383 won in July 2024 to 54,035 won in December.
They rebounded in the second half of last year. The average price, which stood at 65,087 won in July, climbed to 108,724 won in December.
The upward trend continued this year. After topping 150,000 won at the end of January, the stock reached an all-time high of 374,500 won on June 19.
As the stock price rose, some existing investors moved to lock in gains. At the same time, expectations of further upside and a booming domestic market appear to have sharply increased the influx of new individual investors.
Samsung Electronics' retail shareholder base also grew rapidly during previous stock-investing booms. The number of retail shareholders rose from 2,153,969 at the end of 2020 to 5,066,351 at the end of 2021, more than doubling in a year. It then surpassed 6 million for the first time in September 2022.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics is preparing measures to enhance shareholder value based on record operating profit of 146.7 trillion won in the first and second quarters of 2026.
Late last month, Samsung Electronics said, "We will soon share with shareholders the key details of our shareholder return policy, designed to maximize the effect of enhancing shareholder value while securing the optimal balance between reinvestment for future growth and shareholder returns."

[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter