Kospi index tops 5,000 as Samsung and SK Hynix soar on governance reforms

South Korea's Kospi index briefly moved above 5,000 for the first time on Thursday before ending at 4,952.53, after gaining nearly 20% in January. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have surged to almost threefold and fourfold their levels of a year ago, lifting the benchmark as President Lee Jae Myung advances governance changes and dividend-focused incentives. While foreign and institutional investors drove the rally, many domestic retail investors exited the market amid slowing economic growth.