KOSPI Closes Down 0.48%... KOSDAQ Up 1.02%

Volatility Continues in Korean Stock Market; Both Indexes Remain Steady
KOSPI Mixed by Industry, While Most KOSDAQ Sectors Rise

Amid continued volatility in the domestic stock market, the KOSPI ended slightly lower while the KOSDAQ closed higher on the 12th.

On the 12th, the KOSPI index opened at 5,567.65, down 42.30 points from the previous trading day, with the domestic stock market status displayed on the electronic board at the Hana Bank dealing room in Jung-gu, Seoul. On the same day, the USD-KRW exchange rate started trading at 1,480.1 won, up 13.6 won from the previous trading day. March 12, 2026. Photo by Jin-Hyung Kang

On this day, the KOSPI index finished trading at 5574.51, down 35.44 points (0.63%) from the previous day. Individual investors recorded a net purchase of 2,970.77 billion won, while foreign investors and institutional investors posted net sales of 2,948.127 billion won and 155.488 billion won, respectively.

By industry, movements were mixed. Construction (+4.60%), Non-metallic Materials (+2.37%), Machinery & Equipment (+1.98%), Transportation Equipment & Parts (+1.59%), and Metal (+1.11%) sectors were strong, while Insurance (-2.87%), Pharmaceuticals (-1.33%), Electrical & Electronics (-1.18%), and Financials (-0.98%) were weak.

Among the top market capitalization stocks, performances were also mixed. Shares of Samsung Electronics (-1.1%), SK hynix (-2.3%), SK Inc. (-5.8%), Samsung Life Insurance (-3.3%), Hyundai Mobis, Samsung Biologics, and SK Square (-2.1%) declined. Stocks that rose included Hanwha Aerospace (+3.5%), LG Energy Solution (+2.7%), LS ELECTRIC (+2.6%), Kia (+2.4%), and Doosan Enerbility (+2.3%).

On the 12th, the KOSPI index started the session at 5567.65, down 42.30 points from the previous trading day, as the domestic stock market status was displayed on the electronic board at the Hana Bank dealing room in Jung-gu, Seoul. On the same day, the won-dollar exchange rate opened at 1480.1 won, up 13.6 won from the previous trading day. Photo by Kang Jinhyung, March 12, 2026

The KOSDAQ index closed at 1148.40, up 11.57 points (1.02%). Individual and institutional investors net bought 635.932 billion won and 58.196 billion won, respectively, while foreign investors net sold 597.656 billion won.

By industry, most sectors showed gains. Non-metallic Materials (+4.27%), Construction (+3.47%), Metal (+2.94%), and General Services (+2.30%) were strong. In contrast, Financials (-1.87%) were weak.

Among the top market capitalization stocks, performance was mixed. Shares of Ecopro (-1.9%), Peptron (-3.8%), Wooree Technology (-3.5%), and Hugel (-2.0%) fell compared to the previous day. In contrast, Orum Therapeutics (+9.4%), AIMEDBIO (+7.0%), and Pado (+5.3%) posted significant gains.

Meanwhile, in the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar exchange rate closed at 1466.5 won, down 2.7 won from the previous day.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.