South Korean Shares Rise on AI Investment Push

2026-08-11 01:41 By Erika Ordonez 1 min. read

The benchmark KOSPI rose 0.73% to close at 6,346 on Tuesday, extending gains from the previous session, supported by plans to accelerate AI-related investment.

The government plans to enact a special law this year to streamline the implementation of AI investment projects, including a semiconductor cluster backed by combined investment commitments of 800 trillion won from Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.

Sentiment was also supported by strong semiconductor exports, which surged 155.4% year-on-year in the first 10 days of August to $9.95 billion amid robust global AI demand.

Meanwhile, gains were tempered by overnight weakness in US technology stocks and higher oil prices amid uncertainty over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Large-cap performance was mixed, as Samsung Electronics jumped 4.02% and SK hynix rose 0.70%, while Hyundai Motor (-1.10%), LG Energy Solution (-3.67%), KB Financial (-2.56%), Hanwha Aerospace (-4.69%), and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-5.45%) posted losses.



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