Korean Stocks Soar Past 7,000 Point Milestone

KOSPI Surpasses 7,000 Mark SEOUL, May 6 (sources) – South Korea's benchmark KOSPI index exceeded 7,000 points for the first time on Wednesday, driven by an artificial intelligence (AI) powered rally in semiconductor stocks. This surge propelled Samsung Electronics' market capitalization past the $1 trillion threshold, making it only the second Asian company asourceser Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) to achieve this valuation.

The KOSPI closed up 6.45% at 7,384.56, asourceser reaching an intraday record high of 7,426.60. This performance reflects the significant impact of global AI hardware demand on equity markets.

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, key players in the semiconductor sector, saw their shares jump 14.4% and 10.6% respectively, contributing 44% to the KOSPI's total value. The broader market gains followed a 5.1% rally on Monday, supported by robust domestic manufacturing activity and strong semiconductor demand.

The KOSPI has climbed 75% year-to-date, building on a 76% increase in 2025. This sustained growth is attributed to the AI boom, which has created a severe shortage of memory chips, and government initiatives for market reforms. Analysts note that the South Korean stock market remains undervalued compared to historical earnings valuations, with some projecting the KOSPI could reach 10,000 points by year-end if AI chip demand persists.