19.02.202601:48:39UTC+00South Korean Shares Hit Fresh Record Highs

The benchmark KOSPI climbed more than 2% to around 5,650 on Thursday, notching a new record high as robust gains in US technology stocks boosted heavyweight semiconductor names. A positive lead from Wall Street, following the release of the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting minutes, set a constructive tone for Asian equities more broadly.

The index advanced after reopening from a three-day Lunar New Year holiday, with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix rising 5% and 2%, respectively, and contributing significantly to the upswing. Other strong performers included SK Square (up 2.9%), Kia Corporation (2.7%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (7.9%), and Doosan Enerbility (3.1%), underscoring the breadth of the rally.

Investor sentiment was further buoyed by sustained global demand for advanced memory chips, reinforcing Korea’s pivotal role in the artificial intelligence supply chain. Although concerns over exchange-rate volatility and trade-related uncertainty persist, the solid performance of major technology names helped maintain the market’s upward momentum.