As the KOSPI index topped 4,000 points (p) for the first time ever, Korea Exchange (KRX) Chairperson Jeong Eun-bo said, "KOSPI 4,000 is a new starting line for 'Ocheonpi' (KOSPI 5,000)," adding, "Investor-centered capital market policies and industry policies centered on new industries must be in balance."
On the 27th, Korea Exchange (KRX) held a ceremony at its Yeouido headquarters to celebrate the KOSPI breaking through 4,000p. The event was attended by Kang Jun-hyeon, ruling party secretary of the National Policy Committee, and Oh Gi-hyeong, Chairperson of the KOSPI 5000 Special Committee, as well as representatives from the National Assembly and industry.
The KOSPI closed the day at 4,042.83p. It entered the 4,000 level a month and a half after setting this year's first record high on Sept. 10. Market capitalization also hit an all-time high of 3,326 trillion won on the day.
It took 4 years and 9 months for the KOSPI index to climb from 3,000p to 4,000p. That is a significant shortening compared with the 18 years and 4 months from 1,000p to 2,000p, and 13 years and 5 months from 2,000p to 3,000p. The exchange explained that, along with net foreign buying, this suggests a reassessment of the stability and growth potential of the Korean stock market.
In his congratulatory remarks, Jeong said, "KOSPI 4,000p is the fruit of management that values shareholder value, and it means a market long held back is normalizing quickly," adding, "We must consistently pursue investor-centered capital market policies to bring forward the era of the 'Korea premium.'"
He emphasized that future projects will proceed as planned. He said, "To strengthen global competitiveness, we will steadily push ahead with building a 24-hour trading framework, shortening settlement deadlines, and improving entry and exit systems, while also taking preemptive action on crypto asset exchange-traded funds (ETF) and asset tokenization."
Financial Services Commission (FSC) Chairperson Lee Eog-weon said in a video congratulatory message, "Breaking through KOSPI 4,000p shows the trust that domestic and foreign investors have in our capital market," adding, "We will actively support this so it can lead to tangible outcomes such as revitalized real investment and the creation of quality jobs."
This year's KOSPI gain is 68.5%, overwhelmingly No. 1 among G20 countries. The October gain (18.1%) also remains No. 1. Compared with annual KOSPI gains on record, it ranks fourth after 1987 (92.6%), 1999 (82.8%), and 1988 (72.8%).
The exchange said that a friendly outlook for the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, increased liquidity from global rate cuts, and the government's capital market revitalization policies allow for expectations of an additional rally. It explained that, given the sharp growth achieved in a shorter time than in the past, expectations for reaching 5,000p have also grown along with the recovery of the global economy.
The exchange noted, "However, demand for profit-taking following the short-term surge, as well as continued exchange rate volatility and tariff uncertainty, are risk factors."