The Kospi record high on Tuesday marked a major milestone for South Korea’s stock market. Strong investor optimism, fueled by chipmakers, pushed the index near the 3,900 mark before closing at 3,823.84, up 0.24 percent.
President Lee Jae Myung hailed the rally as a sign of normalization. He said the market is “returning to where it should be.” The Kospi record high reflects investors diversifying wealth-building strategies and shifting away from unproductive sectors.
Since surpassing 3,000 points in June, the index has maintained steady growth. It has set fresh records almost weekly, showcasing strong market momentum.
SK hynix and Samsung Electronics led Tuesday’s rally. Both companies benefited from rising semiconductor demand and solid third-quarter expectations. SK hynix briefly hit 502,000 won, surpassing the 500,000 won milestone for the first time. The stock later eased to 479,000 won as investors locked in profits. Samsung Electronics also approached the symbolic 100,000 won mark before closing slightly lower at 97,500 won.
Foreign investors sold 12.5 billion won worth of shares, while retail investors sold 155.5 billion won. Institutional investors were net buyers, purchasing 211.6 billion won in stocks. Despite profit-taking, trading activity remained strong.
Hyundai Motor added to market optimism. The automaker reached a 52-week high of 267,000 won before closing 3.43 percent higher at 256,500 won. Meanwhile, the Kosdaq index fell 0.37 percent to 872.5 points, showing mixed performance across sectors.
Analysts remain optimistic about chip stocks. Daishin Securities raised SK hynix’s target price to 550,000 won, citing its strong fundamentals and product leadership. KB Securities increased its forecast to 600,000 won, pointing to surging AI-related data center demand and limited memory supply.
The Kospi record high underscores South Korea’s resilience amid global uncertainty. Experts believe strong demand in semiconductors will continue to support the rally.
As chipmakers drive innovation and exports, South Korea’s market appears set for sustained growth through the next quarter.
