The Korea Fair Trade Commission said on the 29th that Hanwha's ranking by total asset amount among large corporations rose from seventh to fifth as demand for defense products increased amid geopolitical conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war. Lotte and POSCO, by contrast, fell to sixth and seventh, respectively.
The Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) stated accordingly in the "2026 designation status of business groups subject to disclosure." The Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) designates large corporations with 5 trillion won or more in asset as business groups subject to disclosure and requires them to report every year on the management status of domestic and overseas affiliates and the equity holdings of the owner and the owner's family.
According to the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC), among the top 10 corporations, Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor, and LG kept their rankings at Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the same as last year. No. 5 changed from Lotte to Hanwha. Hanwha's total asset amount stood at 149.605 trillion won this year, up 19% (23.864 trillion won) from a year earlier, lifting its asset ranking two notches to fifth.
Buoyed by a defense boom, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and LIG also climbed in the asset rankings. Korea Aerospace Industries rose in asset from 8.128 trillion won last year to 10.387 trillion won this year, with its ranking moving up from No. 62 to No. 53. LIG increased from 7.109 trillion won to 9.087 trillion won, with its ranking rising from No. 69 to No. 63.
Meanwhile, among the top 10 groups, Lotte and POSCO each fell one place from last year to No. 6 and No. 7, respectively. Lotte's asset edged down from 143.316 trillion won to 142.420 trillion won. POSCO increased from 137.816 trillion won to 140.584 trillion won, but its gain was smaller than other corporations, so its ranking slipped.