South Korea Stock Market Value Tops 6,000 Trillion Won, Up 2.7-Fold in a Year

South Korea’s stock market capitalization surpassed 6,000 trillion won ($4.2 trillion) for the first time, as a semiconductor-driven rally lifted the market’s value 2.7-fold in just over a year.

The Kospi rose 111.74 points, or 1.73%, to 6,587.37 as of 10 a.m. on April 27, according to the Korea Exchange. The benchmark touched 6,603.01 intraday. The Kosdaq also climbed 1.67% to 1,223.99.

The combined market capitalization of the two indexes reached 6,047.9 trillion won ($4.2 trillion). At the Kospi’s low on April 9, 2025, the total stood at 2,210.1 trillion won ($1.5 trillion). That means the market has grown about 2.7 times in a little over a year. Total market value topped 3,000 trillion won in July 2025, 4,000 trillion won in January 2026 and 5,000 trillion won in February 2026.

South Korea’s standing has also risen globally. CompaniesMarketCap, which tracks listed companies by market value, estimated the capitalization of the country’s major companies at $3.245 trillion, placing it eighth in the world.

Chipmakers led the latest advance. Samsung Electronics gained 1.14% to 222,000 won, while SK Hynix jumped 4.83% to 1.281 million won. Both stocks hit intraday record highs. Their combined market capitalization is about 2,338 trillion won ($1.6 trillion). That accounts for 43.6% of the Kospi and 38.7% of the overall stock market, highlighting a growing concentration in a single sector and a small number of stocks.

Volatility remains a risk factor. The VKOSPI, the Kospi 200 volatility index, climbed as high as 55.60 during the session, reflecting investor caution after the market’s rapid short-term gains.

Lee Song-ryul, Hankyung.com reporter yisr0203@hankyung.com