The South Korean stock market experienced its strongest growth since 2008 after the crash.
South Korea's main stock index, the Kospi, rose by 9.6 percent to 5,583.9 points at the close of trading on March 5, marking the highest level since October 2008. This was reported by Bloomberg.
At its peak, the increase reached 12.2 percent. However, the day before, it experienced the most significant drop since the fall of 2008. In just one day, the Kospi plummeted by more than 12 percent, from 6,165.15 points to 5,090.79 points.
Thus, the decline was only partially compensated, but the very fact of such sharp movements indicates that many traders took advantage of the panic arising from the conflict in Iran and the threat of a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Shares of semiconductor manufacturers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix rose by 11.3 and 10.8 percent on March 5. Insurer Mirae Asset Life Insurance gained 30 percent, while broker SK Securities increased by 17.3 percent.
Even considering the overall decline in recent days, the Kospi shows exceptional results lately. Since the beginning of 2026, it has risen by more than 30 percent, driven by corporate governance reforms in the country and a boom in artificial intelligence that is increasing demand for components.
Gerald Gan, Chief Investment Officer at Reed Capital Partners, noted that such a rapid rebound is related to the activity of technical traders who buy stocks on dips. However, it remains unclear whether this is a full-fledged rebound for continued growth or if the situation will lead to a stable decline in the stock market.
Meanwhile, Rob Lee, managing partner of hedge fund Amont Partners, believes that the recent sell-offs are linked to investor panic rather than fundamental factors, suggesting that the market is more likely to continue its upward trend.
