South Korean stocks extend rally to 12th session on robotics surge

Graphics by AJP Song Ji-yoon

SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - South Korean stocks extended their rally to a 12th consecutive session on Monday, driven by strong gains in robotics-related shares.

The benchmark KOSPI rose 1.32 percent to close at 4,904.7, marking another record high after maintaining gains throughout the session. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ advanced 1.4 percent to 968.4, while the KOSPI 200 climbed 1.3 percent to 713.96.

Foreign investors led the advance. In the KOSPI market, foreigners posted net purchases of 551.3 billion won, while retail investors and institutions were net sellers of 751.1 billion won and 23.8 billion won, respectively. On the KOSDAQ, foreign investors bought a net 202.6 billion won, while individuals and institutions sold 137.5 billion won and 29.6 billion won.

Robotics stocks were at the center of the rally. Doosan Robotics surged 19.14 percent to 107,700 won. Shares of Hyundai Motor Group also jumped on growing optimism over its robotics strategy, particularly its humanoid robot Atlas. Hyundai Motor soared 16.2 percent to 480,000 won, while Kia gained 12.2 percent to 169,600 won.

The strength in robotics shares reflected a broader thematic rotation in the market. With renewed tariff pressure on semiconductors in the United States, investors have increasingly turned to sectors seen as less directly exposed to trade frictions, including robotics, automation and next-generation mobility.

Expectations are also building that investment momentum is shifting from generative artificial intelligence toward practical industrial and manufacturing applications.

By contrast, former market leaders showed more subdued performance. Naver fell 3.1 percent to 238,000 won, while Samsung Electronics edged up 0.3 percent to 149,300 won.

In currency markets, the won strengthened slightly against the dollar to close at 1,474 won.

Elsewhere in Asia, markets were mixed. Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.7 percent to 53,583.6, while China’s Shanghai Composite rose 0.3 percent to 4,114.
Yoo Joonha Reporter joonhayoo94@ajupress.com

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