KOSPI Hits All-Time High, Driven by Foreign Investors and Institutions

by Kim Youngwon

Published 21 Apr.2026 09:31(KST)

Updated 21 Apr.2026 09:42(KST)

Surpasses Previous Record at 6,355.39 Points

On April 21, the KOSPI index hit an intraday all-time high, rising above the 6,350 mark. Foreign and institutional investors led a strong buying trend.

As of 9:14 a.m. at the Korea Exchange on April 21, the KOSPI index was trading at 6,353.12, up 134.03 points (2.16%) from the previous session. At around 9:11 a.m., the index climbed to 6,355.39, surpassing the previous intraday record of 6,347.41 set on February 27, marking a new all-time high in about two months.

On the 21st, when the KOSPI hit its highest level of the year, dealers were working in the dealing room at the Seoul Hana Bank headquarters. Photo by Yonhap News.

The upward trend was driven by strong net purchases from foreign and institutional investors. Foreign investors recorded a net buying value of 331.2 billion won, and institutions bought a net 136.5 billion won. Individual investors, on the other hand, posted a net selling value of 460.8 billion won.

Most industry sectors were trading higher. Machinery and equipment (2.25%), electrical and electronics (2.54%), construction (5.90%), transport and storage (1.21%), retail (1.30%), metals (1.29%), manufacturing (2.06%), telecommunications (1.19%), securities (0.48%), and chemicals (1.10%) all rose. Pharmaceuticals (-0.39%) and insurance (-0.06%) saw slight declines.

Major stocks by market capitalization were also on the rise. Samsung Electronics (2.10%), SK hynix (3.77%), Hyundai Motor (1.52%), LG Energy Solution (6.76%), SK Square (3.00%), Doosan Enerbility (2.97%), Hanwha Aerospace (0.21%), and Kia (0.57%) all climbed. Samsung Biologics (-0.44%) and KB Financial Group (-0.19%) declined.

The KOSDAQ index was trading at 1,176.81, up 1.96 points (0.17%) from the previous session. Individual investors recorded net purchases of 254.3 billion won, while foreign investors and institutions posted net sales of 241.2 billion won and 4.8 billion won, respectively.

Among the top market capitalization stocks on the KOSDAQ, there was a mixed trend. EcoPro (2.06%), EcoPro BM (2.14%), Samchundang Pharm (2.20%), LIG Nex1 (0.21%), and HLB (0.79%) increased. Alteogen (-0.27%), Rainbow Robotics (-0.82%), Kolon TissueGene (-0.97%), ABL Bio (-1.44%), and LIG ChemBio (-0.85%) declined.