South Korea's benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) surpassed the 9,000-point mark for the first time in its history on Thursday, reaching an intraday high of 9,040.52 before settling around 8,993 by mid-afternoon in Seoul. The surge was driven by soaring shares in chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, which have risen 188% and 287% respectively this year, fuelled by strong global demand for AI-related semiconductors. The milestone — achieved in under a month after the index broke 8,000 points in late May — signals a dramatic transformation of South Korean equities, with analysts now eyeing a potential 10,000-point level on the back of robust corporate earnings and a broader U.S.-Iran peace deal that has reopened the Strait of Hormuz shipping route.