US EditionSouth Korea’s benchmark index surges 76% in 2025
KOSPI surged 75.6% in 2025, driven by semiconductor gains and retail investor buying amid a weak Korean won, marking it the best-performing major economy index.
- On Jan. 2, the KOSPI closed at a record 4,309.63 after a 92.620% surge in 2025, marking a historic high.
- Samsung Electronics and SK hynix drove much of the rally as semiconductors grew outbound shipments 22.2% and shipbuilding 24.9% in 2025, supporting exporters.
- The Korean won traded weakly at 1,442.75, prompting intervention signals, while large-cap chip stocks led gains with Samsung Electronics up 2.3% and SK hynix surging.
- Some brokerages, including NH Investment & Securities, forecast the KOSPI could reach 5,000 in 2026, with Samsung Electronics approaching $70 billion and SK hynix surpassing $50 billion.
- Amid forecasts, Lee Phil-sang warned `The Korean stock market has a single failure point because it relies so much on the semiconductor boom driven by the AI revolution`, while Kim noted exports decreased last year but semiconductors carried the market.
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11 Articles
[Digital Daily Reporter Kang Ki-hoon] On the first trading day of 2026, the KOSPI surged over 2%, breaking through the 4,300 mark. This marks a new all-time closing high. Semiconductor stocks, including Samsung Electronics, the world's largest market capitalization, led the rally. According to the Korea Exchange on the 2nd, the KOSPI closed at 4,309.63, up 2.27% (95.46 points) from the previous day. The KOSPI opened at 4,224.53, up 0.25% (10.36 …
The rally in technology company stocks contributed to the performance.
Kospi starts 2026 bullish with 2.27% climb to surpass 4,300 mark for first time
Korean stocks surged more than 2 percent on Friday, with the Kospi jumping 95.46 points, or 2.27 percent, to close at a record high of 4,309.63 as large-cap semiconductor shares led the rally.
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