Korea Exchange Halts Stock Market Trading Hours Extension... Considering Postponement to Second Half of Year

Published 05 Mar.2026 20:48(KST)

Emergency Meeting with Member Firms Amid Industry and Labor Opposition

As industry and labor groups have intensified their opposition to the extension of stock market trading hours, the Korea Exchange is considering delaying the implementation to the second half of this year.

On the 25th, the KOSPI index surpassed the 6,000 mark for the first time in history during early trading, as shown on the domestic stock market index at the Korea Exchange in Yeouido, Seoul. On the same day, Samsung Electronics, which exceeded 200,000 won, and SK Hynix, which surpassed 1,000,000 won, also started trading with an upward trend. Photo by Jinhyung Kang, February 25, 2026

According to the financial investment industry on March 5, the Korea Exchange held an emergency meeting with member firms earlier in the day regarding the extension of trading hours. The meeting was held three times throughout the morning, and it has been reported that the exchange expressed its intention to consider adjusting the implementation schedule in response to concerns from the securities industry.

Initially, the Korea Exchange had aimed to extend daily trading hours from 6 hours and 30 minutes to 12 hours by the end of last year. Ultimately, it was decided to open a pre-market session from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and an after-market session from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. starting June 29, 2026.

The main reason cited was the need to extend trading hours to enhance the competitiveness of the global capital market, following the trend of extended trading hours in major markets such as the United States.

However, there has been continued backlash from the securities industry citing insufficient preparation time. The Korea Financial Investment Association submitted an official statement containing the industry’s opinion on the extension to the Korea Exchange. In particular, member companies pointed out that they lack sufficient time to develop and prepare their information technology (IT) systems for operation, listing this as a key reason for opposition.

After reviewing the industry’s opinions, the Korea Exchange held the meeting to gather further feedback. At the meeting, the exchange proposed implementing the extension in mid-August, but the securities industry reportedly suggested an additional postponement to mid-to-late September. There was also consensus on reducing the pre-market session from the previously planned 7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.-7:50 a.m.

Opposition from labor groups has also continued. On the previous day, the Financial Industry Division of the Korean Federation of Office Workers’ Unions set up a container in front of the Korea Exchange in Yeouido, Seoul, and began an indefinite all-out protest.

In a statement, the union criticized, “Korea Exchange Chairman Eunbo Jung is unilaterally pushing for the 7:00 a.m. market opening and the extension of trading hours under the pretext of advancing the capital market,” adding, “Simply extending trading hours will not bring in long-term investment funds.” The union further argued that “ultimately, extending trading hours could turn the stock market into a trader-centric market focused on short-term volatility.”