Seoul: Dividend payouts by listed firms in South Korea rose more than 15 percent from a year earlier in 2025 amid an unprecedented rally in the local stock market, industry data showed Tuesday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, data compiled by corporate tracker Leaders Index revealed that 694 firms that disclosed their dividend payouts in regulatory filings paid a combined 48 trillion won (US$33.2 billion) in dividends last year, marking a 15.3 percent increase from 41.6 trillion won a year earlier.

Of the surveyed companies, 371, or 53.5 percent, increased their dividend payouts from the previous year, while 152 firms, or 21.9 percent, reduced them, and 106, or 15.3 percent, kept them unchanged. Additionally, 65 companies, or 9.4 percent, did not pay dividends in 2024 but resumed payouts in 2025.

By company, Samsung Electronics Co. topped the list, distributing 11.1 trillion won in dividends last year, up 13.2 percent from the previous year. Kia Corp. followed with 2.64 trillion won, Hyundai Motor Co. with 2.62 trillion won, and SK hynix Inc. with 2.1 trillion won in payouts.

Notably, dividend payments at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. surged 205.6 percent on-year to 567 billion won, while those at Hyundai Elevator Co. increased 154.7 percent to 198.6 billion won.

On an individual level, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong received 399.3 billion won in dividends last year, up 15.2 percent from a year ago, maintaining his top position. Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung ranked second with 197.6 billion won in dividends.

South Korea's benchmark stock index experienced a significant rise of 75.7 percent in 2025, primarily driven by strong gains in semiconductor shares.