South Korean stocks rebound as Kospi ends volatile week firm

South Korean stocks ended a turbulent week on firmer footing as the Kospi rallied on Friday, initially jumping more than 8% before paring gains to close up 4.6% after President Donald Trump said the US was nearing a peace deal with Iran. The index finished the week down 0.5%, following a 3.7% decline the prior week.

The week began with a steep selloff — the Kospi plunged over 8% on Monday after a rout in US technology shares spread across Asia — then swung sharply as investors digested the rapid moves. The market’s heavy exposure to the global AI trade amplified the volatility; the Kospi has more than tripled since the start of 2025, making it one of the world’s best-performing and most volatile major markets.

As sentiment stabilized, investors returned to semiconductor names that had borne the brunt of the downturn. Seoul-based KB Securities said much of the valuation adjustment in semiconductor stocks has already taken place. "At present, however, much of that disparity adjustment has already taken place.

South Korea, Seoul

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