SEOUL — The global AI boom has turned South Korean chipmaking giants SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics into stock market darlings. It has also thrust their employees into the top tier of the country's highly competitive marriage market.

South Korean matchmaking firms say people working at the firms are now being ranked alongside doctors, lawyers and people from other traditionally elite professions as hefty bonuses linked to the global AI boom create a new class of affluent employees.

Career consultants say job seekers are increasingly going after roles at Samsung and SK Hynix, including high school students, while some cram schools have started courses to help applicants prepare for job interviews at the chip giants.

"If SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics employees used to be classified as B+ or A-grade candidates, today they are closer to A+," said Son Dong-gyu, chief executive of matchmaking agency Bien Aller.

"Traditionally, A+ candidates would include doctors, lawyers, other highly paid professionals or people from exceptionally wealthy families," Son said.

Samsung and SK Hynix employees are in line for generous bonuses as the global AI boom fuels demand for the firms' memory chip products, driving share prices and profits to record highs.