The benchmark KOSPI rose 1.48% to around 5,894 on Monday, extending last week’s gains to set a fresh record high, supported by robust performances in the chip and auto sectors. Key contributors to the rally included Samsung Electronics (+3.05%), SK Hynix (+2.42%), Hyundai Motor (+4.91%), and Kia Corp (+1.69%). Sentiment was further lifted by strong trade data: South Korea’s exports increased 23.5% year-on-year to $43.5 billion in the first 20 days of February, driven by soaring semiconductor demand amid the AI boom.
At the same time, foreign investors have sold roughly 9 trillion won on the main bourse so far this year, largely in chipmakers. This includes about 9.5 trillion won in Samsung Electronics alone, despite the stock’s 59% gain and record price of 190,000 won. Analysts emphasized that these outflows primarily reflect profit-taking and portfolio rebalancing, rather than a bearish outlook on the South Korean market.
