South Korea’s Benchmark Index Hits Historic Milestone Despite Global Market Turmoil

South Korea’s Kospi index crossed the 5,000 mark for the first time on Jan. 22, defying global market turbulence caused by U.S. President Donald Trump’s Greenland takeover ambitions.

Blue-Chip Surge

South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index crossed the 5,000 mark for the first time on Jan. 22, a historic milestone that fueled excitement across the country. According to a local report, the Kospi index ultimately closed at 4,952.53 after hitting an intraday high of 5,019.54. Compared to a year ago, when it ended at 2,547, the index has surged nearly 94 per cent.

The rally came even as global markets were rattled in recent weeks by geopolitical tensions surrounding President Donald Trump’s Greenland takeover ambitions. While U.S. and European equities endured sharp sell-offs amid fears of tariffs and instability, the Kospi continued to trend upward, buoyed by strong performances from South Korea’s technology and automotive sectors. Analysts said the resilience underscored investor confidence in domestic blue-chip companies despite external shocks.

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Hyundai Motor, Samsung Electronics, and SK hynix — long considered the market’s blue-chip anchors — powered the rally. Hyundai Motor jumped from 208,500 won a year ago to 574,000 won. Samsung Electronics climbed from 54,100 won to more than 150,000 won, while SK hynix nearly quadrupled from 199,700 won to 768,000 won.

Reacting to the news, Lee, a self-employed businessman in his 50s, is quoted in the report stating that the pace of gains left him torn between caution and fear of missing out. “Blue-chip stocks usually don’t move that fast, so I kept telling myself it wouldn’t last. Before I knew it, the rally just kept going,” he said.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung campaigned last year on ushering in a “Kospi 5,000 era,” even livestreaming himself investing 40 million won in two exchange-traded funds. According to Koscom, the Kodex 200 ETF he bought has risen 115.8 percent, while the Kodex Kosdaq 150 gained 37.9 percent.

FOMO Among Retail Investors

Meanwhile, the report said that for younger Korean investors, the rally has been as much social as financial. Jeon Ji-won, a 25-year-old student, said she felt pressured to invest after seeing peers boast of big gains online. “I didn’t want to feel left out, not just financially, but socially, so I started investing,” she reportedly said.

Her picks — YG Entertainment, Kakao and APR — did not match the rally’s strongest performers in the tech sector. “Samsung Electronics and SK hynix keep making headlines for hitting record highs. I feel like they’ve already risen too much, but people around me say they’re the safest bets,” she said.

Some investors said soaring prices have created confusion rather than confidence. “Because prices keep going up, I feel apprehensive about when to sell, which one to sell, which one to buy and whether to follow what others are doing,” said Park Jung-ho, a 37-year-old office worker.

Still, others remain skeptical. Hwang, a 33-year-old bank employee in the United States, said much of the enthusiasm is hype driven by peers and social media. “Many people are not investing after studying stocks as a long-term commitment. Instead, they jump in after hearing from friends or watching YouTube stories about others making big money,” he said.

Veteran investors like Choi Won-ho, a 40-year-old accountant, said they are unfazed. “I’ve been doing stocks for nearly two decades, so there’s no anxiety,” he said. “I focus on market themes and whether foreign or institutional investors are entering before making trades. Because I trade based on that, I don’t feel a strong fear of missing out.”

Some analysts, meanwhile, believe the Kospi’s ability to trend upward even as Western markets faltered suggests regional investors may continue to see South Korea as a relatively safe haven, particularly in sectors tied to innovation and exports.

FAQ ❓

• Why is the Kospi’s 5,000 milestone significant? It marks the first time South Korea’s benchmark index crossed 5,000, nearly doubling in a year.
• How did global tensions affect the rally? Despite Trump’s Greenland takeover ambitions rattling U.S. and European markets, the Kospi kept trending upward.
• Which companies powered the surge? Blue-chip giants Hyundai Motor, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix drove the index to record highs.
• What do analysts expect next? South Korea may be seen as a safe haven, with innovation and exports fueling continued investor confidence.