Market Overview
KOSPI closed at 8,801.49, up 0.15%, inching ever closer to the psychologically significant 9,000 level. In stark contrast, KOSDAQ fell 2.29% to 1,026.03, extending its losing streak to five consecutive sessions and threatening to break below the 1,000 mark. The divergence between large-cap strength and small-cap weakness remained the defining feature of the session.
Key Themes
- Jensen Huang effect and Physical AI: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's imminent visit to Korea and his public mentions of Korean partners ignited a fierce rally in robotics, telecom, and semiconductor names. The "AI-to-robotics rotation" narrative accelerated.
- Retail leverage bets: Individual investors — particularly those in their 40s — aggressively purchased 2x leveraged ETFs on Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, underscoring elevated risk appetite in the large-cap tech space.
- KOSPI–KOSDAQ split: While blue chips powered ahead on global AI momentum, the KOSDAQ continued to bleed, with sidecar triggers reaching post-financial-crisis highs amid elevated volatility.
- Delisting risk: BU Technology's collapse into cleanup trading served as a cautionary tale for small-cap speculators.
Stocks in Focus
Doosan Robotics (454910)
Doosan Robotics surged 20.45% on heavy volume, pushing its market capitalization past KRW 10 trillion despite ongoing net losses. The rally was fueled by reports that Jensen Huang may visit the company during his Korea trip, reinforcing its position as a core "Physical AI" play. Year-to-date gains now stand at 114%, making it one of the market's standout performers in 2026. (Seoul Economic Daily, Yonhap)
SK Telecom (017670)
SK Telecom jumped 11.59% to a new all-time high after Jensen Huang explicitly named the company as a "Physical AI partner." The large-cap telecom name attracted significant institutional and retail interest as investors bet on its expanding role in AI infrastructure beyond traditional connectivity. (Newsis, E-Daily)
LG HelloVision (037560)
LG HelloVision rose 10.84% on elevated volume, riding broad strength across LG Group affiliates. The move came despite company-specific news that it will cease broadcasting SPOTV channels starting July, suggesting the rally was driven more by group-level momentum than fundamentals. (MTN)
Samsung Electronics (005930)
Samsung Electronics gained 3.3% on massive turnover as retail investors flooded into leveraged ETFs tied to the stock. Reports noted that investors in their 40s were the heaviest buyers of 2x Samsung and Hynix products. Jensen Huang's comment that Samsung should "reward employees with as much bonus as possible" added to the positive sentiment. (Yonhap, E-Daily)
BU Technology (230980)
BU Technology plunged 40% on its first day of cleanup trading ahead of delisting scheduled for June 5. The collapse represents the sharpest single-session decline of the day and highlights the acute risks of holding shares through the delisting process. (Hankyung, E-Daily)
Sungho Electronics (043260)
Sungho Electronics soared 20.41% on high volume, emerging as one of the session's top percentage gainers. The rally was triggered by an exclusive report that its parent company has been named preferred bidder for Sea FSI in a deal valued around KRW 200 billion, while separate coverage highlighted its role as a Samsung Electronics technology development partner. (Chosun Biz, Money Today)
Market Headlines
- KOSPI is knocking on 9,000 while KOSDAQ has fallen for five straight sessions and risks breaking 1,000.
- Retail investors in their 40s emerged as the largest buyers of Samsung and Hynix 2x leveraged ETFs.
- Volatility sidecar triggers have reached their highest frequency since the global financial crisis.
- Japan's Nikkei topped 68,000 intraday, led by AI and semiconductor stocks.
- Anthropic filed its IPO registration, adding fuel to the global AI investment narrative.
- Foreign selling pressure continued, with reports linking outflows to SpaceX-related reallocation.
Closing Note
The Korean market remains a tale of two indices: KOSPI rides the global AI wave toward historic highs, while KOSDAQ struggles under rotation pressure and elevated volatility. With Jensen Huang's Korea visit imminent, the Physical AI theme shows no signs of cooling — though the widening gap between large and small caps warrants close attention.