The benchmark KOSPI rose 0.6 percent to close at a fresh all-time high of 4,551.06. Foreign investors were the primary drivers, snapping up a net 1.25 trillion Korean won (US$930 million), while retail investors and institutions sold roughly 294 billion won ($219 million) and 940 billion won ($700 million), respectively.
Among large-cap stocks, Hyundai Motor surged 13.8 percent to 350,500 won ($262), leading the market higher. The rally followed Chairman Chung Eui-sun's high-profile appearances at CES 2026, as well as reports of deeper cooperation with Nvidia and other global technology firms. Investors have increasingly focused on Hyundai’s push into robotics and its broader "physical AI" strategy.
Samsung Electronics rose 1.5 percent to 141,000 won ($105), while SK hynix gained 2.2 percent to 742,000 won ($556), supported by sustained optimism over AI-driven memory demand and recent target-price upgrades from global investment banks.
Analysts said momentum tied to CES-related headlines could cool in the near term, but added that Hyundai's longer-term robotics push and software-defined manufacturing strategy are likely to remain structural drivers for the stock.
The tech-heavy KOSDAQ underperformed, falling 0.9 percent to 947.39.
Elsewhere in Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 slid 1.06 percent to 51,962.0, while China's Shanghai Composite was flat in late trade. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell about 1.2 percent.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
