In cafés, people talk about shares. Young people talk about them. Elderly people talk about them too. Stock prices have become part of daily conversation.

At the center of this fever are Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.

Samsung Electronics has risen to become one of the world’s largest companies by market value. SK hynix has also shown a remarkable surge. Its market value has moved closer to that of Samsung Electronics. The reason is clear. Semiconductors are no longer just industrial parts. They are now the foundation of artificial intelligence, data centers, and the future economy.

There is concern in Korea. Some say the market is in a bubble. They say prices have risen too fast. They warn that excitement may be running ahead of reality.

But others disagree. They say this is not a simple bubble. The rise is backed by earnings. It is backed by demand for advanced chips. It is backed by the global race for artificial intelligence.

Korea has rarely seen a stock market boom like this. The public is watching. Individual investors are watching. Foreign investors are watching. Hope is rising with the numbers. Fear is rising with them too.

No one knows how long this trend will continue.

For now, the stock market has become a mirror of Korea’s mood. Semiconductors are carrying the weight of expectation. Every trading day gives a new answer. Every price movement asks the same question.

How far can this rise go?