South Korea's KOSPI Surges 101% in H1, Boosted by Individual Investors' 161 Trillion Won Buying Spree

According to Korea Exchange, individual investors purchased 161 trillion won of KOSPI stocks in the first half of 2026, driving the index from 4,214 to 8,476—a 101.14% surge. Samsung Electronics, the most-bought stock, gained 178.57%, while SK Hynix surged 307.07%, rising approximately fourfold.

Retail investors maintained their buying momentum even in June amid market volatility, with net purchases reaching 56 trillion won. The rally reflected retail investors viewing stock declines as buying opportunities, supported by brokerages' positive recommendations on semiconductor stocks. Samsung Semiconductor led gains with a 756.47% increase, becoming the year's top performer.