This photo, taken Oct. 24, 2025, shows the dealing room of Hana Bank in central Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — Trading activity on South Korea’s main stock market has climbed to its highest level in more than four years, propelled by a powerful rebound in semiconductor shares and renewed retail and foreign investor interest.
Average daily turnover on the Korea Composite Stock Price Index stood at 16.6 trillion won ($11.5 billion) in October through Friday, according to data from the Korea Exchange. That is the strongest monthly showing since June 2021, when volumes hit 16.9 trillion won.
The pickup marks a 44% jump from September, well above the 13.9% rise posted by the tech-heavy Kosdaq market.
Investors have piled into the country’s heavyweight chipmakers as expectations grow for a sustained recovery in artificial intelligence and memory-chip demand. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix together accounted for 4.59 trillion won in average daily trading, roughly 28% of all activity on the main board.
Their combined market value, including Samsung’s preferred shares, surpassed 1,000 trillion won for the first time on Friday, underscoring the degree to which a select group of tech names is driving the rally.
“Trading volume has been concentrated in a few large-cap stocks as the market moves higher,” said Lee Jun-seok, a researcher at Hanyang Securities.
The daily average turnover ratio on the KOSPI rose to 0.54% in October, up from 0.42% a month earlier, signaling faster churn in listed shares.
Still, analysts are urging caution. Many argue that the market has already priced in favorable conditions such as anticipated liquidity support from the U.S. Federal Reserve, ongoing trade negotiations between Seoul and Washington, and strength in the AI sector.
“Investors need to be more selective at this stage,” said Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities. “The risks remain, even if sentiment has improved.”
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
