KOSPI Surges Over 6% Amid U.S. Semiconductor Rally and Easing Middle East Tensions The KOSPI opened with a surge of over 6%, driven by a rally in U.S. semiconductor stocks and expectations of reduced geopolitical risks in the Middle East. Following a strong performance in the New York stock market, buying activity has concentrated on major semiconductor firms such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. As of 9:07 a.m. KST, the KOSPI was up 518.36 points (6.68%) at 8,282.31. The index started at 8,263.85, an increase of 499.90 points (6.44%) from the previous session, and June 12, 2026

SpaceX Achieves Record IPO, Becomes Eighth Largest Company SpaceX, the aerospace company led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has completed the largest initial public offering (IPO) in history, quickly rising to become the eighth largest company in the world by market capitalization. According to global market capitalization tracking site Company Market Cap, SpaceX's market cap reached $1.765 trillion (approximately 2,680 trillion won) based on an IPO price of $135 per share, surpassing Saudi state oil company Aramco, which has a market cap of $1.751 tri June 12, 2026

Ridi Launches Sports Manga Exhibition for World Cup Season Featuring 'Blue Lock' and 'Ao Ashi' As the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup kicks off, excitement for soccer is on the rise, prompting the content platform Ridi to launch a sports manga exhibition. Starting June 12 and running for a month, Ridi's exhibition titled "Sports Manga is Essential in Life" will showcase various sports-themed works, including soccer. The initiative aims to bring the joy and emotion of sports to fans even outside the stadium. Among the featured works is "Blue Lock," a manga that follows 300 high June 12, 2026

NS Home Shopping Sponsors Environmental Day Event in Seongnam NS Home Shopping is accelerating its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives by supporting an eco-friendly experiential festival in Seongnam. On June 13, NS Home Shopping will participate in the 31st Seongnam Environmental Day event at the Seongnam City Hall's Neunam Lake Square, sponsoring its signature experiential program, "Palm Farm." Palm Farm is designed to teach children and families about environmental issues such as biodiversity, climate change, resource recy June 12, 2026

Jeonbuk Aims to Become South Korea's AI and Robotics Hub "(In response to a question from ABC Broadcasting) Governor, Hyundai Motor has chosen Saemangeum as a base for AI and robotics rather than an automobile factory. Are you confident in making Jeonbuk South Korea's first physical AI special zone?"South Korea's industrialization began in Ulsan, with the automotive, shipbuilding, and steel industries driving the national economy. In the information age, Pangyo became a symbol of growth. However, the AI era poses a new question: Will artificial intell June 12, 2026

Jensen Huang Discovers 'AI Cake' in South Korea, A Nation with All Five Layers Artificial intelligence (AI) is likened to a five-layer cake, a metaphor frequently emphasized by Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA. During his four-day visit to South Korea, he appeared to discover this 'completed cake' in the country. NVIDIA views AI not as a single product but as a complex structure. The foundation consists of energy, followed by semiconductors, infrastructure that supports and drives the AI models, and finally, the application stage where economic value is generated. Huang June 12, 2026

Daol Investment Securities Raises V.M. Target Price by 46% Amid Growth Expectations Daol Investment Securities announced on June 12 that it has raised its target price for V.M. from 96,000 won to 140,000 won, an increase of 46%, citing expectations for growth driven by new processes and an expansion of client companies. The investment recommendation remains at 'Buy.' Goyoung-min, a researcher at Daol Investment Securities, stated, "The differentiated growth trajectory exceeding market conditions is becoming visible due to the effects of new processes and client company e June 12, 2026

Korea Eximbank Launches K-Finance Package to Support Nuclear Power Exports Korea Eximbank is strengthening its policy finance support system to expand overseas nuclear power orders. The bank aims to enhance the export competitiveness of 'K-nuclear' by preparing tailored financial packages for large-scale nuclear projects in countries like the Czech Republic and Vietnam. On June 12, Korea Eximbank held a 'K-Nuclear Global Expansion Policy Finance Roundtable' at its headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul. The event was attended by representatives from state-owned nuclear June 12, 2026

Pharmaceutical Companies Expand into Pet Care Market Targeting Atopic Dermatitis and Diabetes Pharmaceutical companies are expanding their business models in the pet care market, moving from nutritional supplements to therapeutic products. By applying their expertise and technology from human drug development to veterinary medicine, the pet care industry is expected to advance significantly.According to industry sources on June 12, major pharmaceutical companies such as HK Inno.N, Daewoong Pharmaceutical, and Shinpoong Pharmaceutical are leveraging their experience in human drug developm June 12, 2026

U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Boosts New York Stock Market; KOSPI Eyes 8000 U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a peace agreement with Iran is nearing completion, leading to a significant surge in the New York stock market. With U.S. semiconductor stocks performing well and international oil prices declining, the South Korean market is expected to start strong, aiming to reclaim the 8000-point level for KOSPI. On June 11, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 929.97 points (1.86%) at 50,848.75. The S&P 500 rose 127.31 points (1.75%) to finish at 7,394 June 12, 2026