KOSPI Plummets Over 3 Percent While KOSDAQ Gains on Battery and Bio Surge

The South Korean stock market showed a stark divergence on August 24, 2026, with the benchmark KOSPI plunging 3.12% to close at 6,696.96, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ rose 1.42% to 813.33. Foreign and institutional investors heavily sold off KOSPI shares, posting net sales of 3,676,366 million KRW and 1,292,806 million KRW respectively, while both net-purchased KOSDAQ equities. The USD/KRW exchange rate finished the session at 1,384.51.

SAMSUNG SDI CO.,LTD. (006400) +7.74%

SAMSUNG SDI CO.,LTD. chart

Price now₩515,000
Prev close₩478,000
Change+7.74%
Mkt cap₩41.5T
P/E-61.86
P/B1.89
EPS₩-8,325
ROE-2.17%
Debt ratio78.67%
52W range₩196,800–723,000

Analyst consensus — 22 ratings, last 180 days · avg target ₩715,091

Buy21
Hold1
Sell0

Samsung SDI shares surged 7.74% following the announcement of its Samsung Display stake sale, which secured approximately 4.5 trillion KRW [1][2][4][5][6]. This massive capital injection raised market expectations for the expansion of its Energy Storage System (ESS) business [1]. The stock's upward momentum was further supported by simultaneous net buying from both foreign and institutional investors during the trading session [3].

HanmiPharm (128940) +29.96%

HanmiPharm chart

Price now₩540,000
Prev close₩415,500
Change+29.96%
Mkt cap₩6.9T
P/E40.8
P/B5.48
EPS₩13,235
ROE14.29%
Debt ratio50.54%
52W range₩286,000–647,000

Analyst consensus — 15 ratings, last 180 days · avg target ₩600,667

Buy15
Hold0
Sell0

HanmiPharm skyrocketed 29.96% to close at 540,000 KRW [11], hitting the daily limit-up after securing a massive 3.2 trillion KRW obesity drug export contract with Genentech [8][10]. This milestone technology transfer surpassed the achievements of the company's late chairman [9]. Investor sentiment was also bolstered by institutional investors who maintained a five-day consecutive net-buying streak [12]. Earlier internal control risks reported on August 21 remain unconfirmed in detail [7].

Hanmi Science (008930) +25.70%

Hanmi Science chart

Price now₩56,500
Prev close₩44,950
Change+25.70%
Mkt cap₩3.9T
P/E32.64
P/B3.98
EPS₩1,731
ROE14.71%
Debt ratio49.48%
52W range₩25,600–57,500

Hanmi Science jumped 25.70% to close at 56,500 KRW [14], driven by the positive spillover from HanmiPharm's 3.2 trillion KRW obesity drug licensing deal [15]. Institutional investors extended their net-buying streak to seven consecutive days, fueling the upward trend [13]. Additionally, DXVX supported the stock by investing 8 billion KRW of its capital increase proceeds to repurchase 220,000 shares of Hanmi Science [16].

L&F (066970) +16.36%

L&F chart

Price now₩121,600
Prev close₩104,500
Change+16.36%
Mkt cap₩4.9T
P/E-8.45
P/B6.96
EPS₩-14,393
ROE-51.02%
Debt ratio372.75%
52W range₩59,200–225,000

Analyst consensus — 19 ratings, last 180 days · avg target ₩199,000

Buy18
Hold1
Sell0

L&F surged 16.36% amid renewed expectations for secondary battery and electric vehicle demand, signaling a potential rebound for the sector [19][21][22]. The stock's sharp rally triggered a volatility halt (VI) during the day [19][21]. Strong institutional demand drove the gains, with institutions extending their net-buying streak to 10 consecutive days [23] and selecting L&F as a top pick [24].

ITCENGLOBAL (124500) +16.44%

ITCENGLOBAL chart

Price now₩37,900
Prev close₩32,550
Change+16.44%
Mkt cap₩880B
P/E18.86
P/B7.01
EPS₩2,010
ROE54.70%
Debt ratio145.52%
52W range₩13,990–75,500

ITCENGLOBAL rose 16.44% as a direct beneficiary of rebounding gold prices, given its corporate relationship with the Korea Gold Exchange [25][26][29]. The company's gold-pegged token business gained significant market attention early in the session, driving the stock up [27]. Investor sentiment was further boosted by news of the company expanding its gold financial infrastructure [30]. The stock peaked at 38,950 KRW during intraday trading [28].

Sources

  1. 삼성SDI 주가 장중 8%대 올라, 삼성디스플레이 지분 매각에 ESS 증설 기대 — 비즈니스포스트 · 2026-08-24
  2. [ET특징주] 삼성SDI, 삼성디스플레이 지분 매각 발표…주가 7%↑ — 전자신문 · 2026-08-24
  3. [장중수급포착] 삼성SDI, 외국인/기관 동시 순매수… 주가 +7.43% — 뉴스핌 · 2026-08-24
  4. 삼성SDI, 4.5조 자금 확보에 주가 강세 — gukjenews.com · 2026-08-24
  5. [특징주] '삼성D 지분 매각' 삼성SDI, 8%↑…이차전지주도 강세 — 연합뉴스 · 2026-08-24
  6. [특징주] 삼성SDI, 삼성디스플레이 지분 매각 소식 '상승' — 전국매일신문 · 2026-08-24
  7. [한미약품 노이즈] 황상연號 내부통제 리스크, 주주가치 훼손 트리거 되나 | — 연합인포맥스 · 2026-08-21
  8. 한미약품, 비만약 제넨텍 계약에 주가 30% 급등 — Investing.com 한국어 · 2026-08-24
  9. 한미약품, 선대회장 시절 뛰어넘은 기술이전..상한가 직행 — 스마트투데이 · 2026-08-24
  10. 한미약품 주가 '상한가'..제넨텍에 비만약 3.2조 수출 성공 — gukjenews.com · 2026-08-24
  11. 한미약품 주가, 8월 24일 상한가 기록하며 540,000원 마감 — 톱스타뉴스 · 2026-08-24
  12. [장중수급포착] 한미약품, 기관 5일 연속 순매수행진... 주가 +9.39% — 뉴스핌 · 2026-08-24
  13. [장중수급포착] 한미사이언스, 기관 7일 연속 순매수행진... 주가 +11.46% — 뉴스핌 · 2026-08-24
  14. 한미사이언스 주가, 8월 24일 56,500원 25.69% 상승 마감 — 톱스타뉴스 · 2026-08-24
  15. 한미약품, 3.2조 비만신약 기술이전 소식에 '上'…한미사이언스도 급등 [코주부] — 네이트 · 2026-08-24
  16. DXVX, 한미사이언스 주식 다시 샀다…유증자금 80억 투입해 22만주 확보 — 메디코파마 · 2026-08-23
  17. 오후 이슈 [mRNA] : 한미약품, 한미사이언스, 에스티팜, 테라젠이텍스, 삼양바이오팜 — 파이낸셜뉴스 · 2026-08-24
  18. 한미사이언스, 소폭 상승 마감... 제약바이오 업종 투자심리 개선 속 기술적 반등 : 기업주식정보 — 재경일보 · 2026-08-21
  19. [속보] 엘앤에프 주가 급등 VI 발동…2차 전지·전기차 수요 기대 — bntnews.co.kr · 2026-08-24
  20. 엘앤에프 주가, 8월 24일 장중 121,700원 16.46% 상승 — 톱스타뉴스 · 2026-08-24
  21. [속보] 엘앤에프 장 초반 17% 급등 VI 발동…2차전지 반등 신호탄 되나 — CBC뉴스 · 2026-08-24
  22. [특징주] 2차전지주 급등…엘앤에프 14%·포스코퓨처엠 8%대↑ — 아이뉴스24 · 2026-08-24
  23. [장중수급포착] 엘앤에프, 기관 10일 연속 순매수행진... 주가 +16.65% — 뉴스핌 · 2026-08-24
  24. [특징주] 외국인 ‘모아데이타·HMM’…기관 ‘엘앤에프·NAVER’ 러브콜 — 뉴스티앤티 · 2026-08-24
  25. [특징주] 한국금거래소 자회사로 둔 아이티센글로벌…금값 반등에 수혜 - 조선비즈 — Chosunbiz · 2026-08-24
  26. '한국금거래소' 아이티센글로벌 16% 급등…금값 상승 수혜 - 머니투데이 — 머니투데이 · 2026-08-24
  27. 아이티센글로벌, 장 초반 11%대 강세…금 연동 토큰 사업 부각 — 한국경제 · 2026-08-24
  28. 아이티센글로벌 주가, 8월 24일 장중 38,950원 19.66% 상승 — 톱스타뉴스 · 2026-08-24
  29. 한국금거래소 모회사 아이티센글로벌, 금값 반등에 20% 폭등 — 매일신문 · 2026-08-24
  30. [클라우드 월드] 아이티센글로벌 '금 금융 인프라' 확장·쿠콘 '매출-영업익' 성장·카페24-한국직업전문학교 'AI 인재 양성' 협약·구글 '제미나이 학생 혜택'·메가존 '농심그룹 GWS' 구축 — 뉴스웍스 · 2026-08-21

This is market commentary, not investment advice.