Multiple record highs set repeatedly; Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix rose approximately 180% and 310% year-to-date respectively

Odaily News The first half of the year officially concluded for the Japanese and South Korean stock markets. South Korea's KOSPI index closed up about 1% today, while Japan's Nikkei index closed up about 0.9%. Primarily driven by demand for AI memory chips, the South Korean stock market recorded a cumulative gain of approximately 10% in the first half of the year, repeatedly setting new cyclical highs and even touching an all-time high of 9385. The two tech giants, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, rose by about 180% and 310% respectively year-to-date. Fueled by multiple factors including corporate reforms, AI, and the booming semiconductor supply chain, Japan's Nikkei 225 index has accumulated gains of around 40% this year, while the Topix index is up around 17%. Tech stocks have been a primary driving force, with chip testing equipment manufacturer Advantest rising approximately 65% year-to-date, and chip-making equipment maker Tokyo Electron surging over 120%. (Jin10)