A dealer smiles broadly at the Hana Bank dealing room in central Seoul on Jan. 2, the first trading day of 2026. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean stocks climbed to a record close Friday, propelled by heavy buying in large semiconductor names as investors doubled down on bets that artificial intelligence–driven growth will continue to bolster the country’s export engine. The won weakened against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index jumped 2.27 percent to 4,309.63, its first close above the 4,300 mark and the highest level on record. The previous peak was set in early November, amid mounting optimism around AI-led earnings growth.
Foreign investors drove the rally, snapping up a net 644.7 billion won ($450 million) in shares, while individuals and institutions were net sellers. Trading volume was moderate, and decliners outnumbered advancers, reflecting gains concentrated in heavyweight stocks.
South Korea’s two semiconductor powerhouses, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Analysts said resilient exports have helped offset the drag from recent weakness in U.S. equities. South Korea’s exports reached a record $709.7 billion in 2025, crossing the $700 billion threshold for the first time, fueled largely by semiconductors and AI-related demand, according to government data.
“The market is being supported by a virtuous cycle of global growth, sales and earnings, alongside policy efforts to stimulate both the economy and the stock market,” said Kim Yong-gu, an analyst at Yuanta Securities.
Chipmakers led the advance. Samsung Electronics surged 7.17 percent to a record 128,500 won, while SK hynix rose 3.99 percent to 677,000 won, also a new high.
Other sectors were mixed. LG Energy Solution and LG Chem declined, while biopharmaceutical stocks diverged. Celltrion jumped nearly 12 percent on expectations of record quarterly earnings and news it had completed the acquisition of a U.S. manufacturing plant from Eli Lilly. Samsung Biologics edged lower.
Automakers finished mixed, with Hyundai Motor up slightly and Kia down. Shipbuilders and defense-related shares were similarly uneven, while financials lagged.
The rally came despite a weak finish on Wall Street earlier in the week, where major U.S. indexes ended 2025 lower.
In currency markets, the won slipped to 1,441.8 per dollar in late afternoon trading, down 2.8 won from the previous session, reflecting continued sensitivity to global rate and capital-flow dynamics even as domestic equities set new highs.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
