KOSPI Up 44% This Year
Unrivaled No. 1 Among Major Global Stock Markets
No. 1 Last Year, No. 1 Again This Year
Employees in the dealing room at Hana Bank's head office in Jung-gu, Seoul, are holding a celebratory ceremony on the afternoon of Feb. 25 after the KOSPI closing price surpassed 6,000 for the first time in history. Feb. 25, 2026 Photo by Cho Yongjun
The Korea Exchange announced on the 25th that as the KOSPI surpassed 6,000 for the first time, its year-to-date gain has exceeded 44%. This is an unrivaled No. 1 performance among major global stock markets.
T?rkiye ranked second with 24.8%, Brazil came in third with 18.8%, Japan ranked fourth with 13.9%, and Mexico ranked fifth with 10.3%.
On this day, total market capitalization also hit an all-time high of 5,017 trillion won, having increased by more than 750 trillion won since it topped 5,000 points on Jan. 27 last month.
The Exchange analyzed that the stock market rose as the electric and electronics sector led the rally on the back of growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) memory semiconductors and strong earnings, while defense-related sectors were also strong due to geopolitical crises in regions such as the Middle East.
It added that the rise in shipbuilding and nuclear power (machinery and equipment) and construction sectors, driven by the materialization of orders for large-scale overseas projects and exports of power generation facilities, also contributed to the gains. In addition, the finance, securities, and insurance sectors supported the market's rise through improved earnings stemming from dividend expectations, increased trading value, and an expansion in deposits.
The effects of the government's capital market policies are also continuing. It explained that, as the government has persisted in its efforts to advance the capital market by enhancing shareholder value and eradicating unfair trading, a trend of restoring market confidence and reassessing corporate value is now in full swing.
Positive assessments of shareholder-friendly stock market policies such as the first and second amendments to the Commercial Act and the introduction of separate taxation on dividend income, as well as growing expectations related to the third amendment to the Commercial Act, including the cancellation of treasury shares, are also expanding.
A Korea Exchange official stated, "If earnings improve across sectors and the effects of policies to invigorate the capital market continue, there is a possibility that the upward trend will be sustained," but also stressed, "However, profit-taking demand following the short-term surge, uncertainty over U.S. tariff policy, and heightened geopolitical tensions involving the United States and Iran are risk factors that warrant caution."
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