Korean Markets Plunge at Midday While Select Bio, Food, and Robotics Shares Defy Trend

The South Korean stock market experienced a sharp sell-off by midday, with the benchmark KOSPI plunging 8.60% to 5,505.75 and the tech-heavy KOSDAQ dropping 8.21% to 647.91. Amid the steep market decline, the USD/KRW exchange rate stood at 1,467.33. Despite the overall bearish sentiment, a few select defensive and growth stocks managed to post gains on specific positive catalysts.

Celltrion (068270) +2.59%

P/E	P/B	EPS	Mkt Cap	ROE	Debt Ratio	52W Range
42.85	2.43	4,238	₩42.2T	7.28%	29.99%	158,500–251,000

Celltrion rose 2.59% despite the broader KOSPI plunge, driven by record-high second-quarter earnings and an earnings surprise, alongside expectations of strong growth in North America [1][2][4][5][6]. Reflecting this robust performance and attractive valuation, multiple brokerages upgraded their target prices for the biopharmaceutical firm [2][4][5][6]. Furthermore, market supply and demand dynamics improved as both foreign and institutional investors engaged in simultaneous net buying during the trading session [3].

COSMO ROBOTICS CO., Ltd (439960) +3.24%

P/E	P/B	EPS	Mkt Cap	ROE	Debt Ratio	52W Range
-18.53	29.81	-843	₩507B	0.00%	53.41%	10,000–68,500

COSMO ROBOTICS climbed 3.24% during midday trading. This upward movement was primarily driven by a broader rally in robot and artificial intelligence (AI) related stocks [9]. The stock had previously recorded intraday gains on July 27 and July 28 [7][8]. However, specific internal corporate developments or detailed positive catalysts explaining this consecutive two-day surge remain unconfirmed from the available headlines alone [7][8].

SamyangFoods (003230) +6.34%

P/E	P/B	EPS	Mkt Cap	ROE	Debt Ratio	52W Range
24.37	7.56	51,697	₩9.5T	37.96%	69.84%	981,000–1,665,000

SamyangFoods gained 6.34% amid anticipation of its upcoming second-quarter earnings, supported by strong instant noodle export growth and a positive outlook for its overseas business [12][13][15]. Market demand was further bolstered by foreign investors, who recorded a five-day consecutive net buying streak [14]. While an AI-driven stock rise probability analysis was also reported [10], any further specific drivers for the stock's upward momentum remain unconfirmed from the headlines alone.

Sources

1. 셀트리온 주가 코스피 급락에도 장중 1%대 상승, 2분기 '역대 최대' 실적 — 비즈니스포스트 · 2026-07-28
2. 셀트리온, '2Q26 Review: 안정적 성장' 증권사 발표에 강세 — 매일경제 마켓 · 2026-07-28
3. [장중수급포착] 셀트리온, 외국인/기관 동시 순매수… 주가 +1.85% — 뉴스핌 · 2026-07-28
4. "압도적 실적 성장 기대·가격 매력"…셀트리온 목표가 '줄상향' [종목+] — 한국경제 · 2026-07-28
5. NH투자증권 "셀트리온, 2분기 실적 서프라이즈...목표주가 상향" — PRESS9 · 2026-07-27
6. [핫타임] 셀트리온, 목표가 줄상향에 강세…북미 성장 기대↑ — v.daum.net · 2026-07-28
7. 코스모로보틱스 주가, 7월 28일 장중 14,980원 4.61% 상승 — 톱스타뉴스 · 2026-07-28
8. 코스모로보틱스 주가, 7월 27일 장중 16,350원 14.26% 상승 — 톱스타뉴스 · 2026-07-27
9. 오브젠·코스모로보틱스 등 로봇·AI 관련주 일제히 급등 — gukjenews.com · 2026-07-27
10. AI주식상승확률분석 : 삼양식품 (003230) 주가 전망과 상승확률 분석 — Investing.com 한국어 · 2026-07-29
11. 삼양식품 주가, 7월 27일 1,220,000원 5.99% 상승 마감 — 톱스타뉴스 · 2026-07-27
12. [특징주]2분기 실적 앞둔 삼양식품 강세, 라면 수출 성장 기대감 — 남도일보 · 2026-07-27
13. 삼양식품, 해외 성장세 지속…실적 호조에 주가 재평가 기대 — 핀포인트뉴스 · 2026-07-26
14. [장중수급포착] 삼양식품, 외국인 5일 연속 순매수행진... 주가 +9.72% — 뉴스핌 · 2026-07-29
15. 삼양식품, 해외 실적 선방 전망에 주가 5% 상승 — gukjenews.com · 2026-07-29

This is market commentary, not investment advice.