KOSPI flirts with 5,000 landmark despite grim GDP

by Yoo Na-hyun Posted : January 22, 2026, 16:33Updated : January 22, 2026, 17:17

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The benchmark KOSPI index surpasses the 5000 mark during morning trading at a dealing room of Hana Bank in Jung-gu Seoul on Jan 222026 AJP Yoo Na-hyun — This image shows the moment when the benchmark KOSPI index surpassed the 5,000 mark during morning trading at a dealing room of Hana Bank in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Jan. 22.2026 AJP Yoo Na-hyun

SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI has touched the 5,000 mark for the first time in its history to cause euphoria on Thursday when the country reported a grim economic data, showing the gross domestic product contracting 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter.

The KOSPI closed 0.9 percent up at 4,952.53 after rising as high as 5,019.54. The main index has cracked a new four-digit momentum in just two months since passing the 4,000 mark.