AI-Driven Rally Pushes KOSPI Past 5,000, BTS Comeback Approved, AI Safety Law Enforced
Updated (4 articles)
AI‑driven surge lifts KOSPI to unprecedented levels The Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 0.87 % to close at 4,952.53 after briefly breaching the 5,000 mark intraday, the highest level this year [1]. A record high of 4,840.74 was logged a week earlier, extending an 11‑session winning streak driven by semiconductor and technology shares [2]. The index also opened above 4,800 for the first time, gaining 0.2 % in early trade, underscoring sustained investor optimism around AI‑related demand [3].
Former president Yoon confronts criminal judgment Seoul court sentenced ex‑president Yoon Suk‑yeol to five years in prison on obstruction and related charges tied to his 2024 martial‑law declaration [2]. The ruling follows a pending verdict anticipated in mid‑January, marking the first judicial outcome from investigations into that episode [3]. Prosecutors had sought a ten‑year term, arguing Yoon concealed and justified his actions by privatizing state institutions [3].
Seoul intensifies inter‑Korean engagement mechanisms Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young pledged to resume mutually beneficial projects with the North, while vice ministers inaugurated a regular consultative channel to coordinate policy [1][2]. The initiative aims to create multilateral projects that could pave the way for renewed exchanges [1]. Meanwhile, North Korea announced large youth events ahead of its party congress, signaling a parallel push for internal cohesion [3].
Cultural milestones spotlight Korea’s global influence Seoul’s city government conditionally approved BTS’s March comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square, subject to safety standards [1]. Customs data revealed K‑pop album exports topped US$300 million in 2025, a 3.4 % increase year‑over‑year, highlighting the sector’s robust overseas demand [3].
Sources (3 articles)
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[1]
Yonhap: Seoul stocks briefly breach 5,000 intraday as AI rally lifts market; BTS comeback approved and AI safety act takes effect – Details KOSPI’s intraday breach, BTS concert approval, enactment of the AI Basic Act, and unification ministry initiatives.
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[2]
Yonhap: Yoon sentenced to five years; Seoul bus crash; KOSPI hits record high; North Korea policy talks launched; Guryong fire displaces 200 – Covers Yoon’s sentencing, record‑high KOSPI close, launch of inter‑Korean consultative talks, and other domestic incidents.
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[3]
Yonhap: Yoon verdict awaited as Seoul stocks hit fresh high and NK youth events planned – Reports pending verdict for Yoon, fresh KOSPI high, bipartisan meeting plans, K‑pop export figures, and North Korean youth celebrations.
Timeline
Jan 8, 2026 – The KOSPI closes at a fresh record of 4,552.37, extending a five‑day rally and showing continued investor appetite for technology, defense and shipbuilding stocks despite profit‑taking pressures. [4]
Jan 8, 2026 – President Lee Jae Myung says his recent China visit “sets a foundation for full restoration of ties with Beijing,” signalling a diplomatic push to normalise relations with South Korea’s largest trading partner. [4]
Jan 8, 2026 – The Defense Ministry announces it will dismantle the Defense Counterintelligence Command, a unit accused of involvement in the December 2024 attempted martial‑law declaration, marking a major institutional reform to curb military interference in politics. [4]
Jan 8, 2026 – Seoul Central District Court schedules an arrest‑warrant hearing for MBK Partners chairman Kim Byung‑ju and three executives over alleged Homeplus fraud, reflecting heightened scrutiny of private‑equity governance. [4]
Jan 8, 2026 – The Supreme Court upholds rulings that strip two Democratic Party lawmakers of their seats for 2024 election‑law violations, underscoring strict enforcement of campaign‑finance rules and potentially altering the ruling party’s legislative strength. [4]
Jan 8, 2026 – Cambodian authorities arrest and extradite Prince Group chairman Chen Zhi to China after South Korean sanctions, illustrating growing regional cooperation against transnational online‑scam networks. [4]
Jan 16, 2026 – The Seoul Central District Court sentences former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison for obstruction tied to the December 2024 brief martial‑law declaration, delivering the first verdict on the high‑profile case and signaling accountability for alleged abuse of power. [3]
Jan 16, 2026 – A city bus crashes near Seodaemun Station, seriously injuring two people and lightly injuring eleven others, prompting a police investigation into driver error and vehicle safety in a densely populated district. [3]
Jan 16, 2026 – The KOSPI closes at a record 4,840.74, up 0.9% and extending an 11‑day rally driven by semiconductor shares, while the won weakens, highlighting strong tech demand and currency pressures. [3]
Jan 16, 2026 – Vice Unification Minister Kim Nam‑jung and Foreign Minister Jeong Yeon‑doo launch a regular vice‑ministerial consultative channel to coordinate North‑Korea policy, institutionalising inter‑agency dialogue after years of ad‑hoc talks. [3]
Jan 16, 2026 – A fire in Guryong village, one of Seoul’s last shantytowns, displaces about 200 residents, drawing attention to persistent housing‑security challenges in the capital. [3]
Jan 16, 2026 – Former President Yoon awaits the first court ruling on martial‑law charges, with prosecutors seeking a 10‑year term, underscoring the political stakes of the pending decision. [2]
Jan 16, 2026 – President Lee Jae Myung convenes a bipartisan luncheon with leaders of the DP, PPP and five minor parties at Cheong Wa Dae, aiming to rebuild cross‑party cooperation amid heightened political tension. [2]
Jan 16, 2026 – Seoul stocks open above 4,800 for the first time, rising 0.2% to 4,807.36, marking the 11th consecutive session of gains and reflecting market optimism despite domestic political uncertainty. [2]
Jan 16, 2026 – Customs data show K‑pop album exports reach US$301.7 million in 2025, a 3.4% increase, confirming the genre’s continued global commercial strength despite softer domestic sales. [2]
Jan 16, 2026 – North Korea announces large‑scale youth events to mark the 80th anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League, mobilising thousands of youth and army members ahead of a key party congress and signalling a push to reinforce regime loyalty. [2]
Jan 22, 2026 – The KOSPI briefly breaches the 5,000‑point mark intraday, rising 0.87% to 4,952.53, driven by an AI‑focused rally in technology and semiconductor shares, underscoring the market’s sensitivity to AI‑driven demand. [1]
Jan 22, 2026 – Seoul’s city government conditionally approves BTS’s comeback concert in Gwanghwamun Square for March, pending safety compliance, reflecting the cultural and economic impact of the world‑famous group on the capital’s public‑event landscape. [1]
Jan 22, 2026 – An opposition lawmaker urges the government to mobilise diplomatic resources to repatriate two North Korean POWs held in Ukraine, highlighting a humanitarian dimension of inter‑Korean relations within South Korea’s broader foreign‑policy agenda. [1]
Jan 22, 2026 – South Korea enacts the AI Basic Act, the world’s first comprehensive AI regulatory framework, establishing a foundation for trustworthiness and misinformation control and positioning the country as a pioneer in AI governance. [1]
Jan 22, 2026 – Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young states, “Seoul will pursue mutually beneficial, multilateral projects to find a path to resuming exchanges with North Korea,” signalling a renewed diplomatic push to restart inter‑Korean engagement. [1]
All related articles (4 articles)
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Yonhap: Seoul stocks briefly breach 5,000 intraday as AI rally lifts market; BTS comeback approved and AI safety act takes effect
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Yonhap: Yoon sentenced to five years; Seoul bus crash; KOSPI hits record high; North Korea policy talks launched; Guryong fire displaces 200
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Yonhap: Yoon verdict awaited as Seoul stocks hit fresh high and NK youth events planned
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Yonhap: Seoul market hits record as politics, legal cases and diplomatic moves shape the week