KOSPI, driven strongly by large semiconductor stocks, breaks through 6,900 points for the first time in history

KOSPI first broke through 6,900 points during trading on May 4, 2026, showing a surge. Centered around large-cap semiconductor stocks, both foreign investors and institutional funds flooded in simultaneously, causing the index to rise to a record high.

According to data from the Korea Exchange, by 12:59 p.m. that day, the KOSPI index had increased by 302.28 points (4.58%) from the previous trading day, closing at 6,901.15 points. The index opened at 6,782.93 points, up 2.79%, and although it experienced brief fluctuations early on, it maintained an upward momentum. Subsequently, it repeatedly broke through the 6,800 and 6,900-point thresholds. This phenomenon is interpreted as investor sentiment no longer being confined to specific industries but spreading across the entire market.

The core of this surge lies in the semiconductor stocks with high market capitalization rankings. Samsung Electronics rose about 4%, SK Hynix surged approximately 11%, leading the index upward. Especially, SK Hynix’s stock price soared significantly, performing strongly enough to be called the “1.4 million won Hynix,” and its market value also broke through 1,000 trillion won for the first time. Market capitalization reflects the overall market value of a listed company, indicating its share and influence within the domestic stock market.

In terms of supply and demand, simultaneous buying by foreign investors and institutions strengthened the upward momentum. In the securities market, foreign investors net bought 3.0555 trillion won, and institutions net bought 1.9226 trillion won. Conversely, individual investors net sold 4.8671 trillion won. As individual investors took profits during the stock price surge, foreign investors and institutions increased their holdings in semiconductors and large-cap stocks, pushing the index higher. This trend is often interpreted as a signal that market dominance is shifting from short-term trading to the directional operation of large funds.

In the stock market, when expectations for large export stocks and the semiconductor industry rise, funds from foreign investors tend to flow in concentratedly. The day’s rally can also be seen as the result of this structural strong influence. However, due to the sharp short-term increase in the index, whether additional buying can continue afterward and whether the market can sustain digesting individual sell-offs will be key uncertainties. This trend could persist under the continued semiconductor industry outlook and sustained supply and demand from foreign investors, but caution is needed regarding the increased volatility risk caused by the short-term surge.