South Korea is stepping into a new era of global influence — both economically and technologically — as the nation’s benchmark KOSPI index surged past the 4,000 mark for the first time in history, coinciding with the opening of the 2025 APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju.
The milestone underscores South Korea’s transformation from an export-driven manufacturing hub into a central power in global finance, technology, and diplomacy. More than 1,700 global business leaders — including NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang, Amazon’s Matt Garman, and executives from Google, Meta, and Microsoft — have gathered in Gyeongju to discuss artificial intelligence, trade, and sustainability.
For South Korea, the timing could not be more symbolic. The KOSPI’s record rally reflects surging investor confidence in Korean industries leading the AI and semiconductor revolution. Shares of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, both key partners of NVIDIA in next-generation chip development, have driven much of the index’s gains.
“This is a defining moment for Korea’s economy,” said a senior analyst at Mirae Asset Securities. “The combination of record market performance and global leadership in technology shows that Korea is no longer just following — it’s setting the pace.”
At the summit, NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang is set to outline his company’s vision for robotics and AI infrastructure on October 31, highlighting how deeply intertwined Korean firms have become in the next wave of innovation. Meanwhile, Samsung’s Jay Y. Lee, SK Group’s Chey Tae-won, and Hyundai Motor’s Chung Eui-sun are holding private sessions with global tech leaders to expand AI and semiconductor collaboration.
Adding a political dimension, former U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to deliver a keynote speech emphasizing Washington’s desire to maintain strong economic ties with Asian partners, even as U.S. trade policy grows increasingly protectionist.
For Washington, the Gyeongju summit and Korea’s stock market surge serve as a reminder that Seoul has evolved from a “fast follower” to a global trendsetter in industries shaping the next decade — AI, semiconductors, and electric vehicles. For South Korea, the moment signifies something deeper: its seat at the global table is not temporary — it’s now permanent.
