KOSPI breaks 7,822 then 7,844 records in May 2026 as Hyundai Motor, HD Hyundai, SK Innovation, and Mirae Asset all deliver earnings surprises. Tracks how robotics, AI chip expectations, and macro tailwinds combined to drive South Korea's equity surge.
South Korea's KOSPI closed at a record 7,981.41 on May 14, its second consecutive all-time high, bringing the 8,000-point threshold within 0.24%. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix led the rally as Nvidia's H200 China export authorization spotlighted Korean HBM suppliers as direct beneficiaries; the National Pension Service added roughly ₩50 trillion (~$36 billion) in two weeks.
The United States approved approximately 10 Chinese companies to purchase Nvidia's H200 AI accelerator — the second-most powerful chip in Nvidia's lineup — marking the first meaningful relaxation of semiconductor export controls since 2022. Nvidia stock rose about 2%, and Korean HBM suppliers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix rallied on the downstream demand implications.
SK Innovation reported Q1 2026 consolidated operating profit of KRW 2.162 trillion, returning to profitability from losses in the prior comparable period, driven by recovery across its EV battery (SK On), lubricants, and chemicals businesses. The turnaround reflects easing battery pricing pressure and elevated energy margins during the Iran conflict cycle.
South Korea's KOSPI closed at a record 7,844.01 (+2.63%) on May 13, led by Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) surging 9.91% to KRW 710,000 on robotics revaluation, with Hyundai Mobis up 18.43%. SK Hynix (000660.KS) gained 7.68% to KRW 1,976,000 as AI server investment expectations revived following Jensen Huang's reported China trip. Domestic investors net-bought KRW 3.57 trillion, absorbing KRW 4 trillion in foreign selling.
Mirae Asset Securities reported Q1 2026 net income of KRW 1.0019 trillion (+288% year-over-year) and operating income of KRW 1.3750 trillion (+297%), becoming the first Korean securities firm to surpass the KRW 1 trillion threshold on both metrics in a single quarter. An KRW 804 billion fair-value gain on SpaceX and other global holdings was the primary catalyst, while brokerage and wealth management both set all-time records. Total AUM grew KRW 176 trillion in under six months, reaching KRW 776 trillion.
South Korea's KOSPI closed at a record 7,822.24 on May 11, adding 324 points (+4.32%) as semiconductor stocks repriced after the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index surged 5.51% on May 8. SK Hynix cleared 190,000 KRW (+11%) and Samsung Electronics crossed 280,000 KRW (+6%), putting the 8,000 level within 2.2% reach.