As of 10:30 a.m. Seoul time, the benchmark KOSPI jumped 1.6 percent to 5,165.03, extending its advance into uncharted territory. The KOSPI 200 climbed 1.6 percent to 757.5, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ surged 3.2 percent to 1,116.7, marking another strong push toward higher valuation ground.
The Korean won strengthened, with the U.S. dollar falling 2.20 won to 1,433.3 won. The currency briefly revisited the sub-1,430 level for the first time since late last month, when authorities went all-out to stabilize the local currency toward year-end.
Sentiment was lifted by comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, who said he would “work something out with South Korea” before departing for a campaign-related trip to Iowa. The remarks followed a social-media post a day earlier threatening to raise tariffs on South Korean automobiles and other products from 15 percent to 25 percent, citing delays in the Korean legislature’s ratification of a trade agreement.
Investors interpreted the latest comments as a sign that negotiations, rather than unilateral tariff action, are likely to continue.
Retail investors stepped in aggressively, absorbing selling by institutions and foreign funds. On the KOSPI, foreign investors sold a net 378.9 billion won ($264.6 million), while institutions offloaded 354.1 billion won. Individual investors bought a net 757.3 billion won.
On the KOSDAQ, foreign and institutional investors led buying, adding 252.2 billion won and 859.1 billion won, respectively, while individuals sold a net 1.044 trillion won, suggesting a rotation by retail investors toward the larger bourse.
Sector performance was broadly strong, led by wholesale and distribution-related shares and electrical equipment names. Battery stocks drew particular attention, with LG Energy Solution rising 4.4 percent to 426,500 won. The gains came after local media speculated the company is in talks with Tesla and several Chinese humanoid robotics firms over battery supply and joint development, while robust operating profit growth reported earlier this month continued to support sentiment.
Large-cap technology shares also advanced. Samsung Electronics climbed 1.6 percent to 162,000 won, while SK hynix surged 5.5 percent to 843,000 won, extending gains on optimism over sustained demand for high-bandwidth memory.
Elsewhere, EcoPro jumped 13.2 percent to 156,900 won, while Hyundai Motor added 1.1 percent to 494,000 won.
Among laggards, Doosan Enerbility slipped 1.3 percent to 92,400 won, while LG CNS fell 3.0 percent to 69,800 won, reflecting profit-taking in select recent outperformers.
Across the region, markets were mixed. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.5 percent to 53,068 as investors locked in gains after recent advances, while China’s Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.07 percent to 4,142.7.
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