The benchmark KOSPI fell 0.77% to around 4,951, retreating from record highs as investors engaged in profit-taking. Index heavyweights delivered mixed results, with notable losses for SK Hynix (-2.48%), Hyundai Motor (-1.18%), Kia Corp (-1.89%), and Doosan Enerbility (-1.07%), while Samsung Electronics (+0.79%), LG Energy Solution (+1.09%), and Hanwha Aerospace (+1.91%) posted gains. The market remained cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve’s Jan. 27–28 policy meeting, with investors closely watching for signals on the direction of US interest rates. Sentiment was further shaped by corporate earnings, as attention turned to fourth-quarter results from major firms. Samsung Electronics’ record performance provided a lift, reporting sales of 93 trillion won and operating profit of 20 trillion won, a 200% year-on-year jump driven by a semiconductor upcycle and strong AI-related memory chip demand.
