An electronic signboard at a Hana Bank dealing room in Seoul shows that the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index reached a new all-time high of 3,449.62 points on Sept. 16, 2025. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 16 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean shares extended their record-breaking run on Tuesday, closing more than 1 percent higher on strong foreign inflows and a surge in chip stocks. The Korean won also strengthened sharply against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 42.31 points, or 1.24 percent, to finish at 3,449.62, setting a new all-time high for the fifth consecutive session and rising for the 11th straight day.
Trading was heavy, with 398.4 million shares worth 13.8 trillion won (about $10 billion) changing hands. Decliners outpaced gainers, 568 to 297, as investors locked in profits despite the headline rally.
Foreign investors snapped up more than 1.7 trillion won in local equities, while institutions added 78.8 billion won. Retail investors, in contrast, offloaded 1.76 trillion won.
“The KOSPI soared on the back of aggressive foreign purchases and continued strength in semiconductor shares,” said Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities, pointing to optimism over U.S. rate cuts and Seoul’s policy roadmap for advanced industries.
On Wall Street overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.11 percent, while the S&P 500 gained 0.47 percent and the Nasdaq rose 0.94 percent amid expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut this week. Tech giants led the way, with Tesla jumping 3.56 percent and Alphabet soaring 4.3 percent.
In Seoul, chipmakers continued their charge. Samsung Electronics rose 3.79 percent to a new yearly high of 79,400 won, and SK hynix climbed 5.14 percent to a record 348,000 won.
Defense and industrial stocks also advanced. Hanwha Aerospace surged 5.58 percent, Hyundai Rotem added 3.72 percent, and LIG Nex1 jumped 9.49 percent. Doosan Enerbility soared 7.65 percent, while SK Square gained 2.74 percent. Shipbuilders HD Hyundai Heavy, Hanwha Ocean and HD Korea Shipbuilding also closed higher.
Not all heavyweights joined the rally. Battery giant LG Energy Solution slipped 1.69 percent, and Kakao, the operator of South Korea’s largest messaging app, fell 1.72 percent.
The Korean won closed at 1,378.9 per dollar, up 10.1 won from the previous session, marking one of its strongest days in recent months.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
