25.02.202601:39:32UTC+00South Korean Shares Surges Past 6,000 to Record High

The benchmark KOSPI surged to a fresh all-time high of around 6,067 on Monday, rising 1.64% and notching a fourth straight session of gains, driven by robust advances in technology stocks. Persistent investor optimism over artificial intelligence and record-breaking semiconductor shares continued to bolster market sentiment. The index had briefly topped the 6,000 mark at Wednesday’s open—just one month after crossing 5,000—and is now up 43% year-to-date, following a 76% jump last year, its strongest annual performance since 1999. Additional support came from overseas markets, with Wall Street closing higher overnight: the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.76%, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 1.04%. On the domestic front, technology and automotive names led the rally, including gains in Samsung Electronics (+0.75%), SK Hynix (+0.80%), Hyundai Motor (+8.02%), and Kia Corp (+13.05%).