South Korea’s stock market has hit a significant milestone, with the number of stock trading accounts reaching an unprecedented high. This surge is largely attributed to a robust bull run, spearheaded by leading semiconductor companies, despite recent market fluctuations, according to data released on Thursday.
As of Wednesday, the total number of stock trading accounts registered 108.7 million. This marks a substantial increase of over 10 million accounts compared to the 98.28 million recorded at the close of last year, as detailed by the Korea Financial Investment Association.
This remarkable growth throughout the year is primarily driven by an influx of retail investors actively acquiring shares in prominent local heavyweight stocks. Key among these are global tech giants Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc.
The preceding year also witnessed substantial expansion, with an increase of 11.7 million stock trading accounts.
Significantly, the nation’s benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) surpassed the 9,000-point threshold for the very first time this month. This historic surge is largely fueled by a powerful technology rally, propelled by widespread optimism surrounding artificial intelligence (AI).
Despite this bullish trend, the South Korean market has simultaneously experienced a notable rise in volatility. On Wednesday, the Kospi 200 volatility index, commonly known as VKOSPI, registered 84.81, marking a 6.04 percent increase from the preceding trading session.
