The number of listed companies paying dividends has risen sharply since the Commercial Act was revised last year. The number of companies paying dividends in the first half of this year increased by nearly 50% compared to the same period last year, and the total dividend amount also exceeded 13 trillion won.

According to Yonhap News Agency on the 4th, an analysis by Leaders Index of companies among 2,873 domestic listed firms that announced quarterly or semi-annual cash or stock dividends as of the 3rd showed that 127 companies paid dividends in the first half of this year. This is a 47.7% increase from the same period last year (86 companies).

Total dividends amounted to 13.52 trillion won, up 18.4% from the same period last year (11.416 trillion won). The average dividend yield based on market price also rose 0.5 percentage points from 1.3% to 1.8%.

Of the 127 dividend-paying companies, 105 increased their dividend amounts compared to the previous year. Twelve companies reduced their dividends, and 10 maintained the same level as the previous year.

■ Samsung Electronics Tops with 4.9092 Trillion Won... Hyundai Motor at 1.3092 Trillion Won

By company, Samsung Electronics had the largest dividend. Samsung Electronics decided to pay a total of 4.9092 trillion won in the first half, including 2.4533 trillion won in the first quarter and 2.4559 trillion won in the second quarter. However, due to the rise in share prices, the market-price dividend yield for common stock was only 0.2% in the first quarter and 0.1% in the second quarter.

Hyundai Motor followed, paying a combined 1.3092 trillion won in dividends for the first and second quarters.

■ Dividends Rise Across All Four Major Financial Holding Companies

The four major financial holding companies also all increased their dividends. KB Financial paid 810.9 billion won, Shinhan Financial Group 696.3 billion won, Hana Financial Group 615.1 billion won, and Woori Financial Group 321 billion won. The year-on-year increases were 21.1%, 25.4%, 23.0%, and 9.1%, respectively.

Among individuals, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong received the largest dividends in the first half, totaling 72.8 billion won.

Meanwhile, Chairman Lee Jae-yong is currently ranked first in the CEO category of the Netizen Awards for August. The CEO Award is an online vote that determines rankings among Korea's top business leaders through netizen voting.