Korean Equities Stage Massive Midday Rebound Led by Semiconductor Surge

The Korean stock market witnessed an extraordinary midday rally, with the benchmark KOSPI surging 14.04% to 6,379.11 and the tech-heavy KOSDAQ climbing 9.55% to 706.35. The USD/KRW exchange rate stood at 1,448.99, marking a dramatic shift in investor sentiment following recent steep declines.

SK hynix (000660) +25.11%

SK hynix chart

P/EP/BEPSMkt CapROEDebt Ratio52W Range
28.079.6458,955₩1,209.0T61.16%35.56%245,000–2,987,000

SK hynix surged 25.11% in midday trading, recovering from a sharp two-day drop of 22.85% earlier in the week [1]. The previous decline was fueled by intensifying AI bubble concerns, with foreign media describing the drop as the 'tip of the iceberg' [3]. While the exact catalyst for today's massive rebound is unconfirmed from headlines, recent supportive factors include Chairman Chey Tae-won purchasing 4.8 billion KRW of shares on July 30 [2], and Korea Investment & Securities issuing a bold 4.7 million KRW target price [4][6].

SamsungElectronics (005930) +20.53%

SamsungElectronics chart

P/EP/BEPSMkt CapROEDebt Ratio52W Range
38.013.96,564₩1,458.6T19.16%30.15%67,500–374,500

Samsung Electronics jumped 20.53% at midday, reversing a steep downward trend where it fell 17.91% over two days [7] amid growing global anxieties over an AI bubble [10]. Although the precise trigger for today's dramatic surge remains unconfirmed [8], analysts recently highlighted the company's record-high dividend payouts as a potential defensive shield against further market volatility [9].

SKSQUARE (402340) +29.91%

SKSQUARE chart

P/EP/BEPSMkt CapROEDebt Ratio52W Range
15.624.9566,468₩137.0T55.09%7.50%130,900–2,189,000

SK Square soared 29.91% to hit its daily limit high, driven by the 'Chey Tae-won effect' after Chairman Chey purchased shares on the open market [13][15][16][17][18]. Investor sentiment was further bolstered by positive tailwinds from the US semiconductor market, which lifted Korean chip-related stocks across the board [13][14][16][17]. The exact size of Chey's purchase and specific US market details remain unconfirmed.

Sources

  1. SK하이닉스 –22.85%, 삼성전자 –17.91%…주가, 이틀 만에 빠졌다 — 한겨레 · 2026-07-29
  2. 최태원, SK하이닉스 주식 첫 매수…48억 규모 — 연합뉴스TV · 2026-07-30
  3. 삼성전자와 SK하이닉스 주가 하락은 "빙산의 일각" 외신 평가, AI 버블 우려 더 커져 — 비즈니스포스트 · 2026-07-30
  4. "SK하이닉스 470만원 간다"…주가 빠지자 나온 파격 전망 — 한국경제 · 2026-07-29
  5. SK하이닉스 ADR 해외주식 순매수 1위…세금 더 내는데 왜? — 조선일보 · 2026-07-28
  6. 주가 폭락 속…한국투자증권 "SK하이닉스 470만원 간다" — 연합뉴스TV · 2026-07-30
  7. SK하이닉스 –22.85%, 삼성전자 –17.91%…주가, 이틀 만에 빠졌다 — 한겨레 · 2026-07-29
  8. 삼성전자 주가, 오늘 급등한 이유는? — Investing.com 한국어 · 2026-07-30
  9. 주가 급락한 삼성전자, 역대급 배당이 방어막 되나 — 경제타임스 · 2026-07-29
  10. 삼성전자와 SK하이닉스 주가 하락은 "빙산의 일각" 외신 평가, AI 버블 우려 더 커져 — 비즈니스포스트 · 2026-07-30
  11. 삼성전자·하이닉스 프리마켓서 급락…23만·160만원대로 — 문화일보 · 2026-07-27
  12. “삼성물산, 삼성전자 주가 부진에 덩달아 휘청”…목표가↓ — v.daum.net · 2026-07-29
  13. [ET특징주] 美 반도체 훈풍에 최태원 장내 매수까지… SK스퀘어, 주가 上 — 전자신문 · 2026-07-31
  14. 반도체주 투자심리 들썩…삼성전기·SK스퀘어 '상한가' 직행 - 머니투데이 — mt.co.kr · 2026-07-31
  15. [특징주] SK스퀘어, 최태원 회장 장내 매수 소식.. '상한가' — 글로벌이코노믹 · 2026-07-31
  16. SK하이닉스·SK스퀘어, 美 반도체 훈풍·최태원 매수에 20%대 급등 — 매일신문 · 2026-07-31
  17. [특징주] SK스퀘어, 美 반도체 훈풍·최태원 매수에 상한가 직행 — 뉴스핌 · 2026-07-31
  18. '최태원 효과'에 SK스퀘어 상한가 — thecommoditiesnews.com · 2026-07-31

This is market commentary, not investment advice.