South Korea Leads AI-Driven Economic Growth as Samsung Hits $1 Trillion

South Korea posted the highest growth among the world's major economies in Q1 2026 and saw the fastest AI adoption, according to a Microsoft think tank. Samsung reached a $1 trillion valuation, making the Lee family the country's richest. The government floated a 'citizen dividend' from AI gains, which roiled markets. Meanwhile, hedge funds recorded decade-high weekly buying in Korean, Japanese, and Taiwanese equities, as noted by Morgan Stanley.