In a year when most stockmarkets have impressed, South Korea’s has dropped jaws. In 2025 the KOSPI 200 index has risen by 69% (in won) to a record high, trouncing the 15% notched by America’s S&P 500. Artificial-intelligence hype has helped, especially for big chipmakers such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. But the main reason is a state-backed effort to “value up” the country’s firms—ie, improve their wretched corporate governance and eradicate the “Korea discount” on their stocks.
in Business
