South Korea’s main stock market index, the KOSPI, reached an all-time high of 7,384.56 on Wednesday, closing up 6.45%. This surge was fueled by strong demand for chips used in artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
As a researcher tracking market performance, I’ve observed a significant increase this year. The benchmark is currently up around 75% since January, following an impressive 76% gain last year – which was its best performance since 1999.
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The Korean stock market is experiencing a huge surge! The main index, KOSPI, has broken through 7,300 points for the first time ever, with a gain of 7% today. Leading the way are major tech companies: Samsung Electronics is up 15%, SK Hynix has risen 10%, and SK Square is up 11%. The semiconductor industry is driving this remarkable rally.
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Samsung Electronics saw a significant increase of 14.4%, pushing its market value over $1 trillion. This makes it only the second Asian company, following Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), to achieve this milestone.
SK Hynix jumped 10.6% to reach a record high. SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics together make up about 44% of the total value of the KOSPI index.
As a researcher following market trends, I’ve observed that demand for the hardware powering artificial intelligence is now a major factor influencing how stocks are performing globally. Additionally, the recent improvement in relations between the US and Iran has given Asian markets a boost, encouraging more investment and positive feelings about risk.
Bullish Bets on iShares South Korea ETF Surge 600% in Weeks
South Korea’s manufacturing sector showed strong growth in April. The purchasing managers’ index (PMI) reached 53.6, its highest level in over two years. This growth was also reflected in exports, which continued to increase for the eleventh consecutive month. These positive economic indicators are supporting the recent gains seen in the market.
Investors are unusually optimistic about the iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY). Last week, the value of call options for this ETF reached a record high of $5.5 billion, as noted by The Kobeissi Letter in a recent social media post.
Recently, the amount of money wagered on bullish options has increased by an incredible 600%. The post highlighted that before 2025, weekly call option interest never surpassed $700 million.
So far this year, investors have put about $6.3 billion into the EWY fund. It’s seen a strong return, increasing by 68% in 2026 and a remarkable 181% over the last year and a half, making it the best-performing major stock market worldwide.
The Kobeissi Letter said investors are positioning for further upside in South Korean equities.
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2026-05-06 14:22