Strong Won Cuts Samsung and SK hynix Profit Views by 21T Won
A rapid 10.4% won appreciation wiped 21 trillion won off combined 2026 operating profit estimates for South Korea's top memory chipmakers.
DKBy Dae-hyun Kim, Korea correspondent, trade and policy··Updated September 13, 2026·4 min read
ShareLinkedInXWhatsAppEmailWorkers in protective cleanroom suits monitor automated equipment on a production line inside a semiconductor manufacturing facility. (AI-generated image)
Yonhap Infomax compiled financial market revisions on Sept. 13, 2026, showing that a strengthening South Korean won cut full-year operating profit projections for Samsung Electronics and SK hynix by 21 trillion won ($15.7 billion).
The revised consensus reduced combined 2026 operating profit expectations for the two memory chipmakers by 3.2%, lowering the aggregate forecast from 661 trillion won to 640 trillion won.
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