KOSPI Reaches All‑Time High of 5,803.53 on Feb. 20, Driven by Institutional Buying and Post‑Holiday Demand
Updated (2 articles)
Record‑setting close and massive turnover The Korea Composite Stock Price Index closed at 5,803.53, up 131.28 points (2.31 %) and setting a new all‑time high [1]. Trading volume hit 1.73 billion shares, valued at 32.74 trillion won (≈US$22.64 billion) [1]. The surge followed a three‑day Lunar New Year break, extending the rally that first broke 5,000 on Jan. 27 [1].
Institutional investors lead net buying Institutions purchased shares worth 1.61 trillion won, while foreign investors sold a net 745.06 billion won and retail investors sold 986.12 billion won [1]. Domestic individual and institutional investors also net‑bought on Feb. 19, offsetting foreign outflows [2]. This pattern indicates profit‑taking by non‑institutional participants amid overall optimism [1][2].
AI optimism fuels post‑holiday rally Analysts linked the surge to strong expectations for artificial‑intelligence‑related industries after the market reopened [2]. The same sentiment helped push the index past the 5,600‑point threshold on Feb. 19, where it reached 5,660.26 [2]. U.S. market gains the previous day provided a positive backdrop, with the Dow up 0.26 % and Nasdaq up 0.78 % [2].
Sector gains and currency moves Chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix posted modest gains, while defense contractor Hanwha Aerospace rose 8.09 % [1]. Automakers showed mixed results: Hyundai Motor fell 0.78 % but Kia climbed 1.06 % [1]. The Korean won weakened to 1,446.65 per dollar and three‑year Treasury yields fell to 3.143 % as market confidence rose [1].
Sources
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1.
Yonhap: South Korean KOSPI Hits Record 5,803.53 Amid Investor Optimism: Details the record close, heavy trading volume, institutional net buying, post‑holiday demand, sector leaders, and currency/yield shifts .
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2.
Yonhap: Korean market opens at record high, KOSPI tops 5,600: Describes the Feb. 19 intraday breakthrough, domestic net buying, AI‑driven optimism, U.S. market backdrop, and sector performance, noting a weaker won .
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Timeline
Jan 27, 2026 – The KOSPI breaches the 5,000‑point barrier for the first time in 2026, signaling the start of a strong upward trend that fuels investor optimism throughout the year [1].
Feb 12, 2026 – The index climbs past 5,500 points, reinforcing the bullish momentum and setting the stage for a record‑setting rally later in the month [1].
Feb 15‑17, 2026 (Lunar New Year holiday) – South Korean markets close for a three‑day holiday; pent‑up demand builds among domestic investors, priming a post‑holiday surge in equities [1].
Feb 19, 2026 – The KOSPI opens at a record high, jumping 2.78 % to 5,660.26 within the first 15 minutes, as domestic investors out‑buy foreign sellers and AI‑related optimism drives the rally after the Lunar New Year break [2]; U.S. market gains the previous day (Dow +0.26 %, Nasdaq +0.78 %, S&P +0.56 %) provide a positive backdrop, while large‑cap tech and auto stocks such as Samsung Electronics (+4.64 %) and Hyundai Motor (+3.92 %) lead the gains and the won weakens to 1,452.5 per dollar [2].
Feb 20, 2026 – The KOSPI closes at an all‑time high of 5,803.53, up 2.31 % on record volume of 1.73 billion shares (≈ US$22.6 billion), as institutional investors net‑buy 1.61 trillion won while foreign and retail investors sell [1]; chip and defense stocks spearhead the advance (e.g., SK hynix +6.15 %, Hanwha Aerospace +8.09 %), the won slips to 1,446.65 per dollar and three‑year Treasury yields fall to 3.143 %, reflecting lower borrowing costs [1]; analyst Kim Seok‑hwan notes “heightened U.S.–Iran tensions after President Donald Trump’s remarks and a dip in U.S. shares, yet Korean investors remain hopeful about forthcoming government and corporate measures to boost shareholder returns” [1].