The KOSPI Has Doubled Investor Wealth This Year, Samsung Is Up 173% And SK Hynix 243%, Both Have Crossed $1 Trillion Valuations And India Has Slipped To Seventh With A Weakening Rupee And No AI-Linked Company In The Global Top 100
South Korea’s total market capitalisation has soared 86% this year to $5 trillion, while India’s has declined to $4.8 trillion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, cementing South Korea’s position as the world’s sixth-largest stock market.
Samsung Electronics soared 173.93% while SK Hynix zoomed 243.57% in 2026, with both companies now commanding market values in excess of $1 trillion each. The KOSPI index has doubled investor wealth year-to-date.
The Korean stock market benefitted from a dual tailwind, as President Lee Jae Myung’s push for corporate reform coincided with the emergence of AI as a dominant investment theme. The KOSPI powered past Lee’s 5,000 goal earlier this year, and Wall Street analysts are now calling for 10,000. Korea has vaulted past Canada, Germany, the UK, and France this year. Taiwan also overtook India as the fifth-largest market earlier in the week.
India has been pulled in the opposite direction. None of the Indian stocks are now among the top 100 global corporates in terms of market capitalisation, losing out on the $12 trillion rally globally. A weakening rupee and record foreign outflows have compounded the absence of domestically listed AI infrastructure plays.
Ross McGarry of Asset Value Investors cautioned: “The real test is whether Korea can sustain this re-rating through genuine corporate governance reform.
To check out our previous coverage on Asian markets and AI stocks, read our articles here.
