Samsung Electronics' board approved a 2026 shareholder return plan of 90-110 trillion won on October 21, implementing a 50% free cash flow policy and marking the largest return in Korean corporate history at roughly five times the 2020 record. The move reflects booming AI-driven demand for high-bandwidth memory chips. SK Hynix has raised its shareholder return threshold to more than 50% of free cash flow. Separately, Kakao carried out the largest governance overhaul in its history by splitting growth and investment arms, with a sum-of-the-parts valuation indicating a discount to market capitalization. Since the Commercial Act revision took effect, rights offering withdrawals have doubled to 22 notices this year and several tender offers have failed, with regulators assessing improved shareholder rights amid concerns over capital-raising capacity.