South Korean stocks hit a new intraday record high on Thursday morning, fueled by gains in the auto and shipbuilding sectors. The KOSPI index reached 4,757.35 points before easing slightly. The market showed resilience despite a weak opening.
On January 15, 2026, South Korean stocks reached another intraday record high late Thursday morning, propelled by advances in auto and shipbuilding shares. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 23.83 points, or 0.5 percent, to 4,746.93 as of 11:20 a.m.
After a weak opening, the index touched an all-time intraday peak of 4,757.35 points at 10:11 a.m. Leading automaker Hyundai Motor climbed 1.82 percent, while its affiliate Kia surged 3.64 percent. In shipbuilding, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries gained 1.95 percent, and Hanwha Ocean advanced 4.23 percent.
Pharmaceutical powerhouse Samsung Biologics rose 2.75 percent, and K-pop giant Hybe increased 2.27 percent. Chipmakers showed mixed results, with Samsung Electronics, the world's largest memory chip maker, edging up 0.14 percent, but SK hynix falling 0.54 percent.
The local currency traded at 1,469.6 won against the U.S. dollar at 11:20 a.m., strengthening 7.9 won from the previous session. This performance underscores ongoing market strength amid South Korea's economic fundamentals.
