Archive · 14 Sep 2026
South Korea Extends Stock Trading Hours to Attract Global Investors
South Korea is making its stock market open for more hours each day.
Trading will continue until 8 p.m., instead of ending at 3:30 p.m.
The change starts on Monday, 14 September.
It is meant to make trading easier for investors in other countries.
People will be able to short-sell during the extra hours, but exchange-traded funds will not be included at first.
Supporters say investors can react faster to company news released later in the day.
Critics and market participants worry that fewer buyers and sellers could make trading more expensive and prices more jumpy.
The Korea Exchange also wants to add morning trading by the end of 2027.
Its longer-term goal is to offer stock trading around the clock.
The Korea Exchange will extend stock trading until 8 p.m. starting Monday, 14 September.
The additional session will cover about 2,400 Kospi and Kosdaq-listed stocks, but not ETFs initially.
Investors will be allowed to short-sell during the extended trading period.
The move aims to improve access for overseas investors and attract more international capital.
The exchange plans pre-market trading by the end of 2027, while analysts warn of liquidity and currency-hedging challenges.
- Who
- The Korea Exchange, South Korean investors and overseas investors are involved.
- What
- South Korea is extending regular equity-market trading until 8 p.m., with plans for further expansion.
- When
- The extended hours begin Monday, 14 September; pre-market trading is planned by the end of 2027.
- Where
- The changes apply to South Korea’s Korea Exchange, covering stocks listed on the Kospi and Kosdaq.
- Why
- The stated goals are to improve overseas investor access, attract international capital and modernize the equity market.
Arguments Supporting Longer Hours
Potential Market Concerns
Investor access
Arguments Supporting Longer Hours
Longer hours could make South Korean equities more accessible to overseas investors and help attract international capital.
Potential Market Concerns
Foreign institutions may remain cautious until the evening session develops enough buyers and sellers for large trades.
Reaction to news
Arguments Supporting Longer Hours
Investors would have more flexibility to respond quickly to earnings, corporate announcements and other developments released after the regular session.
Potential Market Concerns
Lower liquidity could produce wider bid-ask spreads, higher trading costs and sharper price movements.
International participation
Arguments Supporting Longer Hours
Aligning trading hours more closely with major global financial centers could modernize the market and support the exchange’s longer-term 24-hour-trading ambition.
Potential Market Concerns
Overseas investors may face more expensive currency hedging because foreign-exchange liquidity can be thinner outside peak periods.
- New closing time
- 8 p.m., compared with the current 3:30 p.m. close
- Stocks covered
- About 2,400 stocks listed on the Kospi and Kosdaq
- Short-selling
- Permitted during the additional trading hours
- Excluded initially
- Exchange-traded funds will remain outside the extended session
- Future expansion
- Pre-market trading is planned by the end of 2027
- Alternative platform
- Nextrade launched pre-market and evening sessions in March 2025
- Market performance
- The Kospi was reported at 6,761.11, down 2.15% from its previous close, while remaining nearly 99% higher over the past year