Oct 27, 2025 – The KOSPI clears the 4,000‑point barrier for the first time since 1983, surging more than 70 % year‑to‑date on AI optimism, U.S. rate cuts and market‑friendly reforms; President Lee Jae‑Myung pledges to push the index past 5,000 and a third‑round commercial‑act amendment to force treasury‑stock cancellations is pending in the National Assembly [25].

Dec 8, 2025 – The KOSPI climbs 1.34 % to 4,154.85 ahead of a Fed meeting, with foreign investors net‑buying 321 bn won; LG Energy Solution jumps 5.99 % on a Mercedes‑Benz supply filing, while Samsung and SK hynix post modest gains, and the won trades at 1,466.9 per $ as Treasury yields edge higher [30].

Dec 15, 2025 – AI‑valuation worries trigger a 1.84 % drop in the KOSPI to 4,090.59; Samsung slides 3.76 % and SK hynix 2.98 %, Hanwha Aerospace falls 5.52 %, while the won strengthens to 1,471.0 per $ and three‑year yields slip to 3.00 % [29].

Dec 16, 2025 – Investors await U.S. payroll data as the KOSPI falls 2.24 % to 3,999.13, the first sub‑4,000 close in a week; Samsung loses 1.91 %, SK hynix 4.33 %, and the won weakens to roughly 1,477 per $ amid broader AI‑sector concerns [28].

Dec 17, 2025 – The KOSPI opens lower at 4,002.6, down 1.33 % on renewed AI fears after Oracle’s data‑center partner pulls out; Samsung dips 0.65 % while SK hynix rises 1.09 %, and the won strengthens to 1,478.5 per $ [27].

Dec 18, 2025 – The KOSPI slides 1.53 % to 3,994.5 as Oracle data‑center setbacks fan AI‑profitability worries; Samsung falls 0.28 %, LG Energy Solution plunges 8.9 % after a Ford deal cancellation, and analyst Lee Kyoung‑min notes that “Oracle’s data‑center projects have fanned concerns over AI profitability, but Micron’s earnings surprise helped limit the decline” [26].

Jan 2, 2026 – The KOSPI opens higher at 4,238.83, with retail investors net‑buying and foreign sellers; Samsung jumps 2.59 % and SK hynix 0.92 % while LG Energy Solution and LG Chem fall, and the won weakens to about 1,441 per $ [24].

Jan 6, 2026 – The KOSPI closes above 4,500 for the first time at 4,525.48, driven by semiconductor, brokerage and shipbuilding gains; retail investors buy 597 bn won, offsetting foreign outflows, and the won trades at 1,445.5 per $ [22]; earlier that day the index briefly tops 4,500 after breaking 4,400 on tech strength [23].

Jan 7, 2026 – The market opens sharply higher, with the KOSPI jumping to 4,594.85 and briefly breaching 4,600 as semiconductor and auto stocks rally; Samsung rises 2.81 %, SK hynix 3.99 %, Hyundai Motor surges 7.47 %, and the won sits at 1,448.6 per $ [21]; later the index closes at a record 4,551.06, propelled by a 13.8 % Hyundai Motor surge after Boston Dynamics’ Atlas demo, foreign net buying of 1.25 tn won and high‑end ship orders [20].

Jan 8, 2026 – The KOSPI opens at 4,556.33, with defense and shipbuilding stocks leading; Hanwha Aerospace jumps 8.12 % and HD Hyundai Heavy rises 5.39 % on strong earnings expectations, while Samsung slips 0.78 % and the won weakens to 1,449.1 per $ [19].

Jan 9, 2026 – The KOSPI hits a fresh record near 4,600 at 4,586.32, as autos, defense and shipbuilding drive gains; Hyundai Motor climbs 7.49 %, HD Hyundai Heavy up 4.64 %, Hanwha Aerospace soars 11.38 %, while SK hynix drops 1.59 % [18].

Jan 16, 2026 – In early trade the KOSPI opens above 4,800 at 4,807.36, marking the first such level and the 11th straight gain; Wall Street’s TSMC‑linked rally lifts Samsung 0.9 % and SK hynix 0.13 % down, while the won trades around 1,471.9 per $ [17]; later the index closes at a record 4,840.74, with chip stocks leading (Samsung +3.47 %), market cap surpassing 4,000 trn won and foreign/institutional net buying [16].

Jan 19, 2026 – The KOSPI tops 4,900 intraday, extending a 12‑day winning streak; auto and tech stocks reverse an early dip, with Hyundai Motor and Samsung leading the rally [15].

Jan 22, 2026 – The KOSPI briefly breaches 5,000 in the morning, the 12th session of gains, after U.S. markets rise on a tariff‑retreat announcement; the milestone arrives less than three months after the 4,000 breakthrough [14].

Jan 27, 2026 – After President Trump announces a tariff hike to 25 % on Korean goods, the KOSPI slides 0.84 % to 4,908.20, with Hyundai Motor down 3.55 % and Samsung –1.45 %; utilities buck the trend, and the won weakens to 1,449.4 per $ [11]; later the index closes above 5,000 at 5,084.85, the first close past that level, on heavy volume, record highs for Samsung (+4.87 %) and SK hynix (+8.7 %), foreign net buying and a won at 1,446.2 per $ [10].

Jan 28, 2026 – The KOSPI jumps 1.65 % to 5,168.72 after President Trump pledges to “work something out” on a trade deal, easing tariff fears; Samsung and SK hynix each rise ~1.9 %, LG Energy Solution surges 9.55 % on a $1.9 bn rocket contract with Norway, and the won strengthens to 1,433.5 per $ [9].

Jan 29, 2026 – The KOSPI reaches a fresh high of 5,221.25, extending a three‑day winning streak on strong earnings from major firms; Hyundai Motor jumps 7.21 %, SK hynix hits a record 861,000 won, the KOSDAQ climbs >20 % since Dec 30 on startup support, while the won weakens to 1,426.3 per $ ahead of a Fed decision to hold rates [8].

Feb 2, 2026 – The KOSPI drops 5.26 % to 4,949.67 after the U.S. Fed chair nomination triggers a sell‑side circuit breaker; gold and silver plunge, financial stocks are rare gainers, the won weakens to 1,464.3 per $ and bond yields rise [7].

Feb 3, 2026 – In early trade the KOSPI leaps 4.68 % to 5,181.41, prompting a five‑minute buy‑side circuit breaker; Samsung and SK hynix surge 6.58 % and 7.83 % respectively, the won strengthens to 1,448.8 per $, and investors watch the Fed chair nomination and trade‑tension outlook [6]; later the index jumps 6.84 % to 5,288.08, a side‑car buying halt is imposed, JP Morgan lifts its 2026 target to 6,000‑7,500, Samsung climbs 11.37 % and SK hynix 9.28 %, while the won improves to 1,445.4 per $ and bond yields climb [5].

Feb 4, 2026 – The KOSPI adds 0.23 % to 5,300.37 as U.S. markets fall on AI‑software worries; Anthropic’s Claude upgrades spark sector speculation, Hyundai Motor rises 3.97 %, LG Energy Solution 2.69 % and Celltrion 4.1 %, while the won weakens to 1,453 per $ [4].

Feb 6, 2026 – The KOSPI falls 1.61 % to 5,080.56 amid a tech slide; Samsung and SK hynix each lose about 1 %, Hyundai Motor drops 4.2 %, but Netmarble spikes 12.6 % after record Q4 2025 sales, and the won edges higher to 1,467.9 per $ as investors fret over AI‑profitability risks [3].

Feb 19, 2026 – In the opening session the KOSPI breaks 5,600, reaching 5,660.26 on AI‑driven optimism after the Lunar New Year holiday; large‑cap tech and auto stocks lead, the won trades at 1,452.5 per $, and foreign investors are net sellers [2]; by the close the index tops 5,600 at 5,677.25, with Samsung up 4.86 % and SK hynix rallying, while auto, battery, biotech, defense and shipbuilding stocks also surge, and Kiwoom analyst Lee Sung‑hoon says “chip momentum will continue” ahead of upcoming AI earnings from Nvidia, Broadcom and others [1].