Samsung Electronics Co. has achieved a significant milestone by reaching a $1 trillion market valuation, driven by a surge in demand for chips used in artificial intelligence applications. This makes Samsung the second Asian company to reach this valuation, following Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC). The company's stock rose as much as 12% on Wednesday, contributing to the Kospi index surpassing the 7,000 mark for the first time. The semiconductor division has reported a historic profit with a 48-fold increase in earnings, fueled by robust orders from AI data centers. Analysts predict that the semiconductor sector will continue to thrive due to limited supply and rising contract prices. However, Samsung faces challenges in its mobile and display operations due to increasing material costs, and employees are demanding a larger share of the profits, threatening an 18-day general strike. Despite these challenges, analysts expect Samsung's stock to rise by around 30% over the next year, as the company remains a key player in the global AI ecosystem.