South Korea’s two leading chipmakers, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, are set to play a pivotal role in OpenAI’s massive $500 billion (€425 billion) “Stargate” supercomputer project, driving investor enthusiasm and fuelling expectations of a long-term surge in demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM).
Shares in SK Hynix jumped around 10 per cent in Seoul trading on Thursday, while Samsung Electronics rose more than 3 per cent, after reports confirmed that the companies had secured a place in the supply chain for OpenAI’s ambitious global AI infrastructure build-out.
The Stargate project, one of the largest AI infrastructure initiatives ever attempted, aims to establish a worldwide network of supercomputers capable of supporting increasingly sophisticated artificial intelligence models. At the heart of this push lies high-bandwidth memory — a specialised chip critical for powering advanced AI processors such as those developed by Nvidia.
SK Hynix, the world’s second-largest DRAM maker, has emerged as the leader in HBM3 production, supplying Nvidia’s most advanced AI chips. Samsung, the global leader in both DRAM and NAND flash, is racing to expand its capabilities in the next-generation HBM4, positioning itself to compete for a bigger slice of the fast-growing AI memory market.
Industry analysts say OpenAI’s initiative could require hundreds of thousands of HBM units every month, a scale that would reshape the global semiconductor landscape. Demand of this magnitude would not only cement SK Hynix’s dominance in the HBM segment but also accelerate Samsung’s efforts to close the gap in cutting-edge designs.
“HBM is the backbone of modern AI computing,” said one Seoul-based semiconductor analyst. “The Stargate project locks in years of guaranteed demand, providing stability for memory makers at a time when the industry is seeking to move beyond the cyclical ups and downs of traditional DRAM.”
Beyond corporate gains, the development carries strategic implications for South Korea, which has long sought to evolve from being a global supplier of components to becoming a hub for advanced digital infrastructure. Hosting a project of this scale underscores Seoul’s alignment with Washington’s efforts to secure AI technology supply chains in friendly nations, while reducing reliance on China-sensitive markets.
OpenAI’s partnership with the Korean chip giants comes as the US seeks to strengthen ties with allies in critical sectors such as semiconductors, an industry central to both economic security and technological leadership.
With Samsung and SK Hynix together controlling more than half of the global memory market, their participation in Stargate not only solidifies their roles at the heart of the AI economy but also reinforces South Korea’s position as a cornerstone of the world’s technology ecosystem.
