Home / Business and Economy / KOSPI Reaches Record High as Inter-Korean Stocks Surge
KOSPI Reaches Record High as Inter-Korean Stocks Surge
20 Oct
Summary
- KOSPI index hits new record high of 3,803.86
- Institutions lead buying, offsetting selling by individuals and foreigners
- Inter-Korean cooperation stocks rise sharply on Trump-Kim meeting talks

On October 20th, 2025, South Korea's benchmark stock index, the KOSPI, set a new record high, briefly surpassing the 3,800 mark during intraday trading. The index opened at 3,775.40, up 1.3% from the previous trading day, and reached a historic high of 3,803.86 around 12:15 p.m. before closing slightly lower at 3,785.23.
The upward trend was driven primarily by institutional investors, who were net buyers of 414.9 billion Korean won. In contrast, individuals and foreigners showed net selling of 30.4 billion and 400.9 billion Korean won, respectively. This suggests that institutional investors were the driving force behind the KOSPI's record-breaking performance.
The gains were also fueled by the news that U.S. President Donald Trump had expressed his desire to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. This sparked a surge in inter-Korean cooperation stocks, with companies like Codes Combine, Good People, and Ananti seeing sharp increases of 14.5%, 11.4%, and 5.4%, respectively, on the KOSDAQ market.
Overall, the South Korean stock market has demonstrated remarkable resilience, with the KOSPI continuing to set new highs and inter-Korean cooperation stocks benefiting from the potential for improved relations between the two countries.