KOSPI Surges Nearly 2% As Samsung, SK Hynix Ride Global Tech Rally

South Korean equities advanced sharply on Tuesday as technology stocks followed Wall Street higher. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix led the move, while the broader South Korean market also benefited from stronger investor risk appetite.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) was up 135.91 points, or 1.94%, to 7,143.63 as of 0059 GMT.

The gains came after the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (Nasdaq) posted a record close on Monday, supported by Advanced Micro Devices and other artificial intelligence (AI)-related stocks.

Major South Korean Stocks Advance Alongside Chipmakers

Samsung Electronics gained 2.28%, while SK Hynix advanced 2.94%, making chipmakers the key drivers of the KOSPI rally. Lower oil prices and falling long-dated US Treasury yields also supported risk appetite.

The gain extended beyond the two major chipmakers.

• LG Energy Solution rose 0.43%.

• Hyundai Motor gained 2.30%.

• Kia Corp increased 0.92%.

• Steelmaker POSCO Holdings added 0.63%.

• Samsung BioLogics edged up 0.07%.

Market breadth was positive, with 458 of the 906 stocks traded advancing and 381 declining. Foreign investors were net buyers of 162.8 billion won, equivalent to $119.3 million, of South Korean shares.

US Investment Package Adds To South Korea Market Focus

South Korea was also preparing to brief lawmakers on plans for a $350 billion investment package in the United States. The briefing was described as an important step as Seoul and Washington work towards implementing a trade agreement. The agreement has reduced US tariffs on South Korean goods to 15%.

Won Strengthens As Korean Bond Yields Ease

The South Korean won strengthened 0.71% to 1,365.7 per dollar from its previous close of 1,375.4. The currency had gained 5.4% against the US dollar so far in 2026. Meanwhile, the KOSPI had risen 69.51% over the same period.

In the debt market, December futures on three-year Treasury bonds gained 0.04 points to 102.26. The most actively traded three-year Korean Treasury bond yield fell 1.1 basis points to 4.044%, while the benchmark 10-year yield declined 0.8 basis points to 4.438%.

Also Read - Spinny Files Confidential IPO Papers With SEBI, Targets ₹2,500-3,000 Crore Raise