South Korean Stocks Surge on Semiconductor Rally
Analysis based on 7 articles · First reported Mar 18, 2026 · Last updated Mar 18, 2026
The South Korean stock market experienced a significant rally, with the KOSPI (KOSPI) surging over 5%, primarily driven by strong performance in the semiconductor sector. This positive sentiment also led to the strengthening of the South Korea===South Korean won against the United States===United States dollar, indicating increased investor confidence in the South Korean economy.
South Korean stocks, as measured by the KOSPI (KOSPI), surged over 5% on Wednesday, closing at 5,925.03. This rally was primarily fueled by a strong performance in the semiconductor sector, following remarks from Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang at a global artificial intelligence (AI) conference. Huang acknowledged that Samsung Electronics manufactures the Groq LP30 chip for Nvidia, which is in production and expected to ship in the second half of the year. This news significantly boosted investor appetite for semiconductor shares, with Samsung Electronics jumping 7.53% and SK Hynix climbing 8.87%. The Korea Exchange (KRX) issued a buy-side sidecar and temporarily suspended program trading due to intense buying pressure from foreign and institutional investors. Concurrently, the South Korea===South Korean won strengthened against the U.S. dollar, reflecting overall positive market sentiment. While defense shares like Hanwha Aerospace and LIG Defense & Aerospace saw slight declines due to profit-taking, Doosan Enerbility rose on expectations for alternative energy sources benefiting from high Brent crude prices.
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