KOSPI breaks through 4,300 points... Samsung Electronics leads semiconductor rally New Year's stock market "good start"

On January 2, 2026, the first trading day of the stock market opening, the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) broke through 4,300 points for the first time during trading, ultimately closing at a record high of 4,309.63 points based on the closing price. This represents a 2.27% increase from the previous trading day, indicating that the domestic stock market has shown strong upward momentum starting from the first trading day of the new year.

The core driver of this surge is Samsung Electronics. As market expectations for the semiconductor memory sector’s prosperity, known as the “super cycle,” spread, Samsung Electronics’ stock price experienced a sharp rise. On that day, Samsung Electronics approached “130,000 won,” once again attracting market attention, with the optimistic outlook for the semiconductor industry’s recovery strongly reflected in investor sentiment.

This upward trend is not limited to Samsung Electronics. Semiconductor-related stocks such as SK Hynix also saw significant gains, which had a notable impact on the overall Korea Composite Stock Price Index. Experts believe this is the result of multiple factors, including the recovery of global IT demand, expansion of artificial intelligence technology, and expectations of U.S. interest rate cuts.

Major institutional investors also demonstrated an active buying stance from the early hours of trading. Particularly, foreign investors focused on large-cap stocks and officially launched “buy” operations, thereby boosting the market. The investment psychology that had temporarily shrunk at the end of the year experienced a strong rebound at the beginning of the year, entering a genuine recovery phase.

This rally is driven not only by short-term supply and demand factors but also contains medium- and long-term expectations, making it highly significant. The possibility of a shift in the monetary policy tone of major countries led by the U.S., expectations of a soft landing for the global economy, and prospects for domestic corporate earnings recovery are intertwined, creating a positive overall atmosphere in the stock market.

This trend is likely to have a positive impact on the overall stock market in the first half of this year. However, given the persistent high-level pressure, geopolitical risks, and increased volatility that may result from changes in global monetary policies, investors should remain cautious.