Samsung, SK Hynix Surge Nearly 30% as Kospi Jumps 17.91% to Record Gain

3 articles · Updated · Korea Economic Daily · Aug 3

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix each soared nearly 30% on July 31, their biggest single-day percentage gains on record and a sharp rebound from losses earlier in the week.
More than half of Korean companies beat earnings forecasts, giving investors a stronger fundamental case for the rally alongside overnight gains in overseas markets.
The chipmakers’ jump helped drive the Kospi up 17.91% to 6,595.45, marking a record daily gain for South Korea’s benchmark index.
The move underscored how quickly sentiment swung back toward large-cap Korean tech shares after a volatile week, with heavyweight semiconductor names leading the market recovery.

Sources

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Samsung vs SK Hynix vs CXMT: Who Wins the AI Memory War and Which Stock Should You Buy?

4 Sources

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KOSPI’s 40% Crash in 2026: Retail Leverage, AI Mania, and the Unraveling of South Korea’s Stock Market

Overview

In 2026, South Korea’s stock market soared as global demand for AI and high-bandwidth memory fueled record gains, with SK Hynix’s massive Nasdaq listing and huge U.S. tech deals driving the KOSPI to new highs. The government’s introduction of single-stock leveraged ETFs led to a retail trading frenzy, pushing Samsung and SK Hynix to dominate 60% of the index. When doubts about AI spending and China’s chip advances emerged, the market crashed 40% in weeks. Forced liquidations and regulatory tightening drained liquidity, causing historic volatility and wiping out hundreds of thousands of retail accounts, with the shock rippling into global markets and weakening the Korean won.

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