South Korea's Stock Market Leaps 16% in One Day but Far From Its High

South Korea's main stock market gauge, the KOSPI, jumped 16% on July 31, 2026, closing at 6,369.71, up from 5,593.56. Chipmaking stocks led the gain on fresh excitement about artificial intelligence, per the Wall Street Journal. The market still sits roughly 30% below its June 22 record close of 9,114.55, so it remains far from healthy.