Operating profits of more than 20 major South Korean companies increased in the first six months of this year from a year earlier, market data showed Friday.

The combined operating profits of tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. and 21 other companies came to 32.44 trillion won ($28 billion) in the January-June period, up 6.1 percent from a year earlier, according to market researcher FN Guide.


It said the combined net profits of the companies stood at 24.46 trillion won in the first half of the year, up 2.8 percent from a year earlier.

Samsung Electronics, the world's largest maker of smartphones and semiconductors, posted a 15.1 percent on-year jump to 1.94 trillion won in operating profit in the first half, accounting for the lion's share in the combined operating profits of the 22 companies.

The 22 companies include LG Electronics Inc.; Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's largest automaker; and SK Telecom Co., South Korea's biggest mobile carrier. (Yonhap)