South Korean Shares Set Fresh Record on Tech Rally

2026-06-01 01:37 By Erika Ordonez 1 min. read

The benchmark KOSPI climbed 3.68% to close at 8,788 on Monday, hitting a fresh record high amid strong semiconductor exports and continued AI-driven demand.

South Korea’s exports surged 53% year-on-year to a record $87.8 billion in May, led by a 169% jump in semiconductor shipments, reinforcing optimism over the sector’s earnings outlook.

Samsung Electronics led the advance, soaring 10.09%, while LG Electronics jumped 29.86% as investors looked ahead to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s visit to South Korea later this week on expectations of AI and semiconductor partnership opportunities.

Additional support came from record highs on Wall Street, fueled by sustained enthusiasm for AI infrastructure spending.

Other notable gains included SK Hynix (1.29%), SK Square (1.87%), Hyundai Motor (3.73%), Doosan Enerbility (1.23%), and KB Financial Group (1.00%).

However, lingering uncertainty surrounding US-Iran negotiations and higher oil prices kept broader geopolitical and inflation risks in focus.



News Stream
South Korean Shares Set Fresh Record on Tech Rally
The benchmark KOSPI climbed 3.68% to close at 8,788 on Monday, hitting a fresh record high amid strong semiconductor exports and continued AI-driven demand. South Korea’s exports surged 53% year-on-year to a record $87.8 billion in May, led by a 169% jump in semiconductor shipments, reinforcing optimism over the sector’s earnings outlook. Samsung Electronics led the advance, soaring 10.09%, while LG Electronics jumped 29.86% as investors looked ahead to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s visit to South Korea later this week on expectations of AI and semiconductor partnership opportunities. Additional support came from record highs on Wall Street, fueled by sustained enthusiasm for AI infrastructure spending. Other notable gains included SK Hynix (1.29%), SK Square (1.87%), Hyundai Motor (3.73%), Doosan Enerbility (1.23%), and KB Financial Group (1.00%). However, lingering uncertainty surrounding US-Iran negotiations and higher oil prices kept broader geopolitical and inflation risks in focus.
2026-06-01
South Korean Shares Surge to Fresh Peak
The benchmark KOSPI jumped 3.55% to close at 8,476 on Friday, reaching fresh record highs after briefly retreating as investor appetite improved on easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Optimism grew after reports said the United States and Iran agreed to extend their ceasefire framework and resume talks on Tehran’s nuclear program. Support also came from Wall Street, where major US indexes closed at record highs overnight, led by gains in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq. Gains in Seoul were driven largely by technology and automobile stocks, with heavyweight shares such as Samsung Electronics (+5.84%), SK Hynix (+1.92%), Hyundai Motor (+6.79%), and Kia Corp (+2.98%) advancing strongly. Separately, Investors also monitored fresh economic data, as South Korea’s industrial production unexpectedly fell 0.7% in April while retail sales slumped 3.6%, marking the steepest decline since July 2020.
2026-05-29
South Korean Shares Edge Lower From Record High
The benchmark KOSPI fell 0.53% to close at 8,185 on Thursday, pulling back from record highs amid uncertainty surrounding US-Iran negotiations. Sentiment weakened after US President Donald Trump said Washington was still “not satisfied” with ongoing talks, while the White House denied reports suggesting progress on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude climbed back toward $96 per barrel, weighing on risk appetite. Technology shares retreated after leading recent gains, with Samsung Electronics (-2.28%) moving lower alongside SK Square (-2.82%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-5.38%), and Hanwha Aerospace (-3.14%). Meanwhile, broader sentiment remained supported by optimism over South Korea’s semiconductor sector after the Bank of Korea raised its 2026 growth forecast to 2.6% from 2.0%, citing robust chip-driven exports. The central bank also kept interest rates unchanged for an eighth straight meeting while highlighting persistent inflation and currency risks.
2026-05-28