South Korea's benchmark KOSPI index closed at a new record high on Thursday, May 14, 2026, inching closer to the 8,000 mark. The index rose 1.2% to 7,985.32, driven by gains in technology stocks, particularly Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.
The rally followed a strong performance on Wall Street, where the Nasdaq Composite hit a fresh high overnight. Investor sentiment was buoyed by optimism over artificial intelligence and semiconductor demand, according to market analysts.
Foreign investors were net buyers of Korean stocks, purchasing approximately 400 billion won ($300 million) worth of shares. The Korean won strengthened slightly against the U.S. dollar, trading at 1,330 won per dollar.
