South Korea’s largest listed companies more than tripled stock-based compensation for employees in the first five months of 2026, underscoring a growing shift toward equity incentives as companies seek to retain talent and align employee rewards with shareholder returns.
The country’s 100 biggest companies by market capitalization awarded shares worth a combined $1.7 billion between January and May, according to data released on June 17 by corporate research firm CEO Score. The total was up from $520 million a year earlier and already exceeded the $1.3 billion distributed during all of 2025.
The figure is expected to rise further in the second half as several companies are still negotiating wage agreements that could include additional stock grants.
Samsung Electronics accounted for the largest share of equity awards, distributing stock worth $1.2 billion to employees during the period. The amount was more than 4.8 times the company’s total stock-based compensation for all of last year.
SK Hynix followed with $282 million in stock awards. Other companies making sizable grants included Doosan with $37 million, SK Square with $36 million, Hybe with $23 million, Hyundai Motor with $18 million and Kakao with $18 million.
Most of the compensation was provided through restricted stock units (RSUs), which grant employees company shares after they satisfy conditions such as continued employment or performance targets.
The structure has become increasingly popular among Korean companies because it offers more predictable value than stock options and helps encourage long-term retention while linking employee compensation to corporate performance.
A rally in semiconductor and technology shares has significantly boosted the value of those awards. As of May 31, the market value of shares distributed during the January-to-May period had risen to $3.4 billion, nearly double their value at the time they were granted.
The largest individual recipient of stock-based compensation this year was Park Jeong-won, who received RSUs valued at $14 million. Other top recipients included Kwak Noh-jung, Roh Tae-moon, and Song Jae-seung.
The rapid expansion of equity-based pay marks a notable change in South Korea’s traditionally cash-centered compensation culture, bringing corporate pay practices closer to those commonly used by large U.S. technology companies.
