KOSPI Breaks 4,500 as Tech Shares Surge While Coupang and Church Probes Intensify
Updated (3 articles)
Record‑breaking KOSPI rally driven by chips and finance The benchmark KOSPI closed at 4,525.48, up 1.52 % and crossing the 4,500 threshold for the first time, propelled by semiconductor, brokerage and shipbuilder gains while the won weakened against the dollar [1]. Earlier in the month the index had already set a record above 4,300 on a chip‑led surge, underscoring sustained investor appetite for Korean tech and financial stocks [2][3]. Analysts view the milestone as a barometer of confidence in corporate earnings and anticipated policy support.
Coupang labor‑safety investigation gains new testimony The mother of Jang Deok‑jun, who died after an overnight shift in 2020, appeared before police, alleging the e‑commerce giant concealed an industrial accident and linking the death to overwork [1]. Seoul police have also created a high‑level task force to review the company’s practices, following parliamentary hearings that grilled executives over a massive data breach [2][3]. The combined legal pressure highlights growing scrutiny of workplace safety at major logistics centers.
Joint prosecution‑police team targets church‑politician bribery claims South Korea’s Supreme Prosecutors’ Office and police launched a joint investigation to probe alleged bribery involving the Unification Church, Shincheonji and lawmakers from both major parties after a special counsel’s probe ended inconclusively [1]. The team aims to consolidate evidence across jurisdictions and follow up on remaining leads about illicit exchanges. No arrests have been reported, but the move signals intensified enforcement of political‑religious corruption.
Budget ministry nominee seeks expert input ahead of confirmation Lee Hye‑hoon, slated to lead the new Ministry of Planning and Budget, met with six economists and researchers to discuss fiscal strategy and policy challenges before her upcoming confirmation hearings [1]. Participants included Inha University’s Kang Byung‑koo, reflecting a proactive effort to shape the ministry’s agenda. The consultation underscores the administration’s focus on credible fiscal planning amid rapid economic growth.
Samsung outlines robotics focus on manufacturing automation Co‑CEO Roh Tae‑moon announced at CES that Samsung’s robotics push will prioritize automating its own production lines rather than consumer products, adopting a phased rollout to boost manufacturing efficiency [1]. The strategy links the robotics roadmap to internal cost savings and operational resilience, marking a shift from earlier consumer‑oriented expectations.
Sources (3 articles)
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[1]
Yonhap (Jan 6, 2026): Seoul stocks surge past 4,500 as markets rally; separate probes and policy moves mark Tuesday news – Details the KOSPI’s record close, the mother’s testimony in the Coupang case, the joint church‑bribery probe, the budget nominee’s expert meetings, and Samsung’s robotics focus .
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[2]
Yonhap (Jan 2, 2026): KOSPI hits record high on chip rally as Coupang probe and security concerns surface – Highlights the earlier chip‑driven KOSPI high, formation of a police task force on Coupang, and security warnings about North Korean submarine developments .
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[3]
Yonhap (Dec 30, 2025): Lee to visit China for Xi summit; Coupang hearing; KOSPI posts dot‑com‑era gains; KT waives penalties; Rodong Sinmun access expanded – Provides context on year‑end KOSPI performance, parliamentary hearing of Coupang executives, and broader political‑economic developments preceding the January rally .
Timeline
Dec 30, 2025 – President Lee Jae Myung announces a four‑day state visit to China (Beijing Jan 4‑5, Shanghai Jan 6) to discuss strategic cooperation and bilateral economic ties, underscoring Seoul’s push to deepen ties with its largest trading partner amid regional security concerns[3].
Dec 30, 2025 – A parliamentary hearing grills Coupang executives, including interim CEO Harold Rogers, over a massive data breach that exposed personal information of roughly two‑thirds of South Koreans, highlighting growing political pressure on the e‑commerce giant to improve data security and compensation practices[3].
Dec 30, 2025 – The KOSPI closes the year at 4,214.17, up 75.7 % from the start of 2025, marking the strongest annual gain since the dot‑com bubble and signaling robust investor confidence in Korean tech and finance sectors[3].
Dec 30, 2025 – KT Corp. pledges to waive early‑termination fees for customers affected by a major femtocell‑related data breach, a move aimed at restoring consumer trust after regulatory scrutiny[3].
Dec 30, 2025 – South Korean authorities reclassify North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun as general material, allowing public access in 20 facilities and major libraries, a symbolic step to increase transparency about the North’s propaganda and inform public discourse[3].
Jan 2, 2026 – The KOSPI hits a record high of 4,309.63, up 2.27 % on a rally led by large‑cap semiconductor stocks, reflecting sustained global demand for chips and boosting market optimism despite a weakening won[2].
Jan 2, 2026 – President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping prepare to discuss peace and denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula during their Beijing summit, a diplomatic effort that could reshape security dynamics in East Asia[2].
Jan 2, 2026 – The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency creates a task force, led by an inspector‑general‑level officer, to intensively investigate allegations against Coupang, signaling an escalation in law‑enforcement scrutiny of the e‑commerce platform’s labor and safety practices[2].
Jan 2, 2026 – A T‑50 trainer jet makes an emergency landing after an engine warning; both pilots survive, demonstrating effective safety protocols in South Korea’s military training program[2].
Jan 2, 2026 – National Security Adviser Wi Sung‑lac warns that North Korea’s public reveal of a “nuclear submarine” hull poses a new threat to South Korea, though he cautions that the actual capabilities remain uncertain, underscoring heightened maritime security concerns[2].
Jan 6, 2026 – The KOSPI breaks the 4,500 barrier for the first time, closing at 4,525.48 after a 1.52 % gain driven by semiconductors, brokerages and shipbuilders, a milestone that signals broad investor demand for Korean tech and financial stocks and tests the durability of the rally[1].
Jan 6, 2026 – Jang Deok‑jun’s mother appears before police as a witness in the investigation of her son’s 2020 death after an overnight shift at Coupang, intensifying public scrutiny of overwork and potential corporate cover‑ups in the logistics sector[1].
Jan 6, 2026 – The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office and police launch a joint investigation team to probe alleged bribery involving the Unification Church, the Shincheonji Church and politicians, aiming to consolidate leads after a special counsel’s probe ended inconclusively[1].
Jan 6, 2026 – Budget Ministry nominee Lee Hye‑hoon meets six fiscal experts to gather policy recommendations ahead of her confirmation hearings, demonstrating a proactive approach to shaping the newly created Ministry of Planning and Budget’s agenda[1].
Jan 6, 2026 – First Lady Kim Hea Kyung visits the Korean International School in Beijing, meets students and teachers, and offers words of encouragement, highlighting cultural diplomacy during the presidential delegation’s state trip to China[1].
Jan 6, 2026 – Samsung Electronics co‑CEO Roh Tae‑moon states at CES that the company’s robotics push will prioritize manufacturing automation, indicating a strategic shift toward internal efficiency rather than immediate consumer‑facing products[1].