KOSPI hits record high, eyes 5,000

Jan 06, 2026, 08:38 am

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An electronic board shows the KOSPI closing index at Hana Bank’s main dealing room in central Seoul on Jan. 5. / Yonhap

South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI climbed to a fresh all-time high on Monday, fueled by strong gains in heavyweight semiconductor stocks, with brokerages suggesting the index could reach the 5,000 level as early as the first quarter.

According to the Korea Exchange, the KOSPI closed at 4,457.52, up 147.89 points, or 3.43 percent, from the previous session. The benchmark shattered its prior record close of 4,309.63 set just one session earlier, marking its second consecutive day at a historic high at the start of the new year.

Foreign investors led the rally, posting net purchases worth 2.17 trillion won, while retail and institutional investors sold 1.51 trillion won and 702.4 billion won, respectively.

The surge was driven by large-cap chipmakers on expectations of an improving semiconductor cycle. Samsung Electronics jumped 7.47 percent to close at 138,100 won, marking its first-ever close above the 130,000-won level. SK Hynix gained 2.66 percent to 695,000 won, briefly topping 700,000 won during intraday trading.

Lee Kyung-min, a researcher at Daishin Securities, said the KOSPI’s upward momentum is strengthening on the back of faster-than-expected earnings growth and rising 12-month forward earnings per share. “The likelihood of the KOSPI entering the 5,000 range in the first quarter is increasing,” he said.

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