KOSPI Index Closes At Highest Level In Years As Mega Caps Gain

The KOSPI Index closed at 3,230.5, a 0.66% gain that marks its highest close since August 2021.

The KOSPI Index closed at 3,230.57 today, adding 0.66% gain on the day, and closing at the highest level since 2021.

This extends a five-session winning streak fueled by robust foreign and institutional buying, overcoming headwinds from U.S.-Korea tariff negotiations and currency volatility.

The index has surged 5.17% over the past month and an impressive 34.67% since the start of the year. The latest session culminated in a four-year high, signalling a strongly bullish trend.

Today's move was well supported by the big blue chip names in the index, with LG Energy Solution leading the charge, with its shares rising by 3%. 

Samsung Electronics (+0.28%) and SK Hynix (+0.19%) also contributed to the KOSPI's upward momentum.

Foreign and institutional investors have been net buyers, with foreigners purchasing over 600 billion won in the session, offsetting retail selling pressure.

• LG Energy Solution's 3% jump comes despite previous challenges, including a temporary halt in construction of its joint U.S. plant with General Motors due to EV market stagnation. Renewed investor confidence may stem from strategic adjustments and anticipated recovery in the EV sector.
• Samsung Electronics' 0.28% gain is tied to its role as a key supplier for Nvidia's H20 GPUs. Nvidia's resumption of H20 GPU sales in China, with models compliant with regulations, has positively impacted Samsung.
• SK Hynix shares increased by 0.19%, following a record operating profit of 9.2 trillion won ($6.69 billion) in Q2 2025, a 69% increase year-on-year. This performance is driven by strong demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips used in AI applications. The company plans to increase investment spending to meet this demand.

The KOSPI's near-term direction will likely be determined by the upcoming earnings reports and any developments in the U.S.-Korea tariff negotiations. The index's ability to sustain its momentum will depend on continued strong earnings growth and a resolution to the trade uncertainties.

“The upcoming earnings season will be a critical test for the KOSPI,” said one market analyst. “Investors will be looking for confirmation that the recent gains are supported by solid fundamentals and not just speculative buying.”