KOSPI Attempts to Break 4,440 Mark Intraday... Semiconductors Fuel 3% Surge

Foreign Investors Lead Massive Buying Spree
KOSDAQ Also Surges Over 1%

The KOSPI, which has been experiencing an unprecedented "super rally," surged by over 3% on the afternoon of January 5, attempting to break through the 4,440 level. The KOSDAQ also climbed more than 1%, setting a new record high.

As the KOSPI once again hit an all-time high, the status board in the dealing room at the Hana Bank headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, displayed the KOSPI, KRW/USD exchange rate, and KOSDAQ on the 5th. On that day, the KOSPI opened at 4,385.92, up 76.29 points (1.77%) from the previous session, surpassing the intraday all-time high of 4,313.55 recorded on the previous trading day (the 2nd). The KOSDAQ rose 0.43 points (0.05%) to 946.00. January 5, 2026 Photo by Cho Yongjun

As of 1:36 p.m. on this day, the KOSPI stood at 4,438.93, up 3.00% from the previous trading day. The index started at 4,385.92, up 1.77% from the previous session, and continued to climb, reaching as high as 4,439.86 during intraday trading, once again breaking its all-time high.

Foreign investors have driven the bullish market by making a net purchase of 1.2254 trillion won alone. In contrast, individual investors and institutions have sold 896 billion won and 342 billion won, respectively.

South Korea's two leading semiconductor companies, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, rose by 6.85% and 2.29%, respectively, pushing the market higher. Samsung Electronics surpassed 130,000 won during intraday trading, ushering in the "130,000 Electronics" era, while SK hynix quickly approached the 700,000 won mark. Other large-cap stocks also showed strong gains.

By sector, machinery & equipment (7.16%), electricity & gas (4.61%), electrical & electronics (4.49%), manufacturing (3.70%), and construction (3.02%) saw the largest increases in order.

At the same time, the KOSDAQ was up 1.01% from the previous trading day, at 955.10. It climbed as high as 955.93 during intraday trading, setting a new 52-week high.