South Korea's benchmark stock index, the KOSPI, briefly surpassed 4,600 on Wednesday, reaching an intraday high of 4,611.72, just a day after closing at a record 4,525.48 above 4,500. Gains in semiconductors and automakers drove the rally, though profit-taking trimmed advances later in the morning. Investors are watching if the tech-led surge will push the index to a sustained close above 4,600.
On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, the KOSPI surged 67.96 points, or 1.52 percent, to close at a record high of 4,525.48, breaking the 4,500 mark for the first time. This followed a breakthrough above 4,400 the previous session, driven by rallies in semiconductors, brokerages, and shipbuilders. Trading volume was robust at 492.84 million shares worth 25.27 trillion won (about $17.4 billion), with individuals net buying 597.55 billion won while foreigners and institutions sold net 618.83 billion won and 68.93 billion won, respectively.
Key performers included Samsung Electronics, up 0.58 percent to 138,900 won, and SK hynix, which jumped 4.31 percent to 726,000 won. Leading shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries soared 7.21 percent to 550,000 won. No Dong-kil, an analyst at Shinhan Securities Co., noted, "Technology stocks weakened on profit-taking in the morning but rebounded on retail buying in the afternoon. Individual investors also bought defense and shipbuilding stocks on expectations of strong 2025 earnings."
On Wednesday, January 7, the index opened higher and briefly hit an intraday high of 4,611.72, topping 4,600 for the first time. By 10:12 a.m., it stood at 4,559.59, up 0.75 percent, before trimming gains to 4,578.73, a 1.18 percent rise, by 11:20 a.m. amid profit-taking. Automakers led advances, with Hyundai Motor jumping 11.69 percent and Kia gaining 4.73 percent, boosted by Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics' demonstration of its humanoid robot Atlas at CES on Monday (U.S. time). The won traded at 1,448.05 against the dollar at 11:20 a.m., down 2.55 won.
Analysts foresee further upside. Han Ji-young from Kiwoom Securities said, "The KOSPI has risen nearly 6 percent in the first two sessions of the year, rewriting history daily." With chipmakers projected to exceed 300 trillion won in combined operating profit, targets have been raised to as high as 5,200. However, uncertainties from Federal Reserve policy and geopolitical risks, including U.S. developments around Venezuela's Maduro, could heighten volatility.
