KOSPI Closes at Record High in the 5,840 Range...KOSDAQ Declines

KOSPI Briefly Breaks Above 5,900 Before Pullback
Foreign Investors Log Net Selling of 1.5306 Trillion Won

The KOSPI index closed at a record high of the 5,840 level on a closing-price basis. The KOSDAQ index ended the session slightly lower than the previous day.

On the 23rd, the KOSPI finished trading at 5,846.09, up 37.56 points (0.65%) from the previous day, marking an all-time high on a closing basis. During the session, the KOSPI once climbed to 5,931.86 points, breaking through the 5,900 mark for the first time. On that day, trading volume was provisionally tallied at 1,465,699,000 shares, and trading value at 31 trillion 513.7505 billion won.

On the 23rd, the KOSPI index rose 94.58 points from the previous trading day, surpassing the 5,900 mark for the first time. The domestic stock market status was displayed on the electronic board in the dealing room of Hana Bank in Jung-gu, Seoul. On that day, the won-dollar exchange rate opened at 1,443 won, down 3.6 won from the previous trading day. 2026.2.23 Kang Jinhyung, Reporter

By investor type, individuals were net buyers of 1 trillion 3,602 billion won, and institutions were net buyers of 42 billion won. Foreign investors were net sellers of 1 trillion 5,306 billion won.

By sector, textiles and apparel (3.66%), paper and wood (1.84%), food, beverages and tobacco (1.51%), construction (1.87%), and electrical and electronics (1.22%) rose. In contrast, securities (-3.49%), telecommunications (-1.28%), and machinery and equipment (-0.78%) declined.

Among large-cap stocks by market capitalization, performances were mixed. Hyundai Motor rose 2.75% from the previous session, posting the largest gain, and Samsung Electronics (1.53%), SK Hynix (0.21%), Kia (0.52%), and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (0.83%) also ended higher. LG Energy Solution (-1.37%), Samsung Biologics (-1.09%), Doosan Enerbility (-1.45%), and Hanwha Aerospace (-0.48%) declined.

The KOSDAQ closed at 1,151.99, down 2.01 points (0.17%) from the previous day. Trading volume was provisionally tallied at 1,423,095,000 shares, and trading value at 14 trillion 353.414 billion won.

By investor type, foreign investors and individuals were net buyers of 165.1 billion won and 247.5 billion won, respectively, while institutions were net sellers of 364.9 billion won.

Most of the large-cap stocks on the KOSDAQ by market capitalization fell. These included Ecopro (-1.17%), Ecopro BM (-2.10%), Samchundang Pharm (-4.20%), Rainbow Robotics (-2.39%), Caregen (-3.13%), Leeno Industrial (-0.41%), and HLB (-1.87%). In contrast, Kolon TissueGene surged 6.84%, and ABL Bio and Alteogen also finished the session strong.

The market reaction is seen as reflecting the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs were illegal. Lee Kyungmin, a researcher at Daishin Securities, said, "U.S. stock index futures are falling in the futures market as they price in the gap between the 10% tariff level specified in the executive order and the 15% tariff level that Trump raised via social media," adding, "The KOSPI index also turned lower in the afternoon session, reflecting the decline in U.S. futures."

He went on to say, "This week, uncertainty is spreading across global stock markets due to factors such as Nvidia’s earnings announcement, private credit risk in the U.S. stock market, and the timetable for handling the Commercial Act amendment bill," and added, "In addition, the Trump administration does not appear to be retreating easily on tariffs, and risk-off sentiment remains in place."