KOSPI breaks through 7,000 index points, the investment boom spreads… Financial topics move into households

As the domestic stock market continues to rise, stock investing has surpassed the attention of some investors and rapidly spread into every aspect of everyday life. The KOSPI index has successively broken through the 5,000- and 6,000-point thresholds this year. After it touched 7,000 points on the 6th, changes have also emerged in parallel, including more entries by individual investors, an expansion in trading scale, and an increase in accounts for minors.

The same trend has been echoed at the scenes of daily life. A parent living in Songpa District, Seoul, said that even during the time they take their children to kindergarten, other parents around them are busy using their phones to check market quotes. Because the stock market fluctuates significantly after it opens, around 9 a.m. has effectively become “investment time.” Stock-related talk has moved deep into households, neighborhoods, and even lines of people waiting for shopping—replacing what used to be the focus of daily conversations such as real estate or savings.

Actual data also supports this shift. According to statistics from the Korea Exchange, in April this year, KOSPI trading volume was 20.838 billion shares and the trading value reached 650.115 trillion won. Compared with the same period a year earlier (11.3079 billion shares and 174.05 trillion won), trading volume and trading value increased by nearly 2 to 3 times, respectively. This means that not only has the index risen, but the number of participants in the market and the amount of funds involved are also expanding at the same time. Statistics from the Financial Investment Association also show that, as of the end of last month, the number of active domestic stock-trading accounts was 105.088686 million, up 17% year over year.

Changes in the trading environment are also seen as the backdrop for the investment boom heating up. With the launch of the alternative exchange NeXTrade, investors can trade not only during the Korea Exchange’s regular trading hours (9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.), but also for a longer period from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., buying and selling stocks. Office workers can place orders on the commute or after getting off work, lowering the participation barrier. Short-term trading that takes advantage of price fluctuations before and after regular trading hours has also become increasingly active. This also means that the domestic market structure, in which trading was basically at a standstill after the close in the past, is gradually changing.

The investment boom is not limited to adult investors—it is also spreading to accounts opened in children’s names. Shinhan Investment Securities said that in the first quarter of 2026, the number of minor client accounts increased by 272% compared with the same period last year. Daishin Securities’ figures also showed that last month, the growth rate of accounts for children aged 0 to 9 was 119.2% compared with January of this year. Among parent groups, a common understanding is forming that using products such as index funds (ETFs—funds tracking specific indices) can help children develop long-term investment habits early. However, the more sharply the market rises, the larger the expected returns—but the volatility risk also increases accordingly. How long the current overheated situation can last ultimately depends on performance, the economic outlook, and the policy environment. Although this trend may continue in the future with expanded trading infrastructure and inflows of personal funds, if more “following the surge” herd-like trades emerge blindly, the burden on investors during the adjustment period may also grow.