Samsung, SK hynix Pay 11.2 Trillion Won in Corporate Taxes

Samsung Electronics and SK hynix collectively paid more than 11 trillion won ($8 billion) in corporate taxes during the first half of this year. Their combined payments marked a 167% increase from the previous year, underscoring the semiconductor industry's growth and its contribution to government revenue. The Financial Supervisory Service's electronic disclosure system revealed that Samsung Electronics paid 3.99 trillion won and SK hynix paid 7.22 trillion won respectively.

SK hynix achieved its highest-ever first-half corporate tax payment, surpassing its 2019 record. The tax payments were primarily based on the companies' performance from the previous year, with annual corporate tax returns typically filed in March and interim payments made in August. The two companies' earnings have surged sixfold to ninefold from last year, with Samsung Electronics posting 146.7 trillion won in operating profit and SK hynix posting 98.2 trillion won, according to the latest estimates.

Industry experts estimate that if the combined operating profit reaches 500 trillion to 600 trillion won, the companies could pay over 100 trillion won annually in corporate taxes, far exceeding the previous annual record of 15.64 trillion won.