KOSPI – Course, Performance & Composition in Real Time

The KOSPI, the South Korea Composite Index, is a key indicator of the performance of the South Korean stock market. Tracking the KOSPI is essential for international investors interested in opportunities in Asia and those looking to diversify their portfolios. In this article, we will look at the KOSPI live price, its past and current performance, and the different ways to invest in this index.

KOSPI Live Course

What is KOSPI?

Le Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or KOSPI, is South Korea's main stock index. It is a capitalization-weighted index that tracks the performance of the 800 most liquid companies listed on the South Korea Stock Exchange (KRX). The KOSPI was created in 1983 and its reference base is 100 as of January 4, 1980.

Performance of the KOSPI Composite Index

The KOSPI has had mixed performance in recent years. In 2025, the index declined by 5,4%. However, it rebounded in the first few months of 2025, rising by 7,2% as of May 10, 2025.

KOSPI's performance is influenced by a number of factors, including South Korea's economic growth, the Bank of Korea's monetary policy and global economic conditions.

How to Invest in KOSPI?

There are several ways to invest in KOSPI:

• Buy the stocks that make up the index: You can directly buy the shares of the companies that make up the KOSPI. This is the simplest method of investing in the index, but it can also be the riskiest, as you are exposed to the specific risk of each company.
• Investing in ETFs or ETFs that track the KOSPI: There are several ETFs and ETFs that track KOSPI. These products allow you to invest in the index without having to purchase individual company stocks. ETFs and ETFs are generally less risky than buying individual stocks because they are diversified across a wide range of companies.
• Trading CFDs on KOSPI: CFDs (Contracts for Difference) are derivative instruments that allow you to speculate on the price of KOSPI without having to purchase the index itself. CFDs can be a risky but potentially profitable way to invest in KOSPI.
• Investing in KOSPI futures: KOSPI futures are standardized contracts that obligate you to buy or sell the index at a specific price and date. Futures can be used to speculate on KOSPI or to hedge exposure to the index.

Composition of KOSPI

The KOSPI is made up of more than 800 stocks of companies listed on the Korea Stock Exchange. The most represented sectors in the index are technology, finance, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.

Among the companies, here are the 75 most important companies in KOSPI:

1. SK HYNIX
2. SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS
3. Kepco
4. KAKAOBANK
5. FILA HOLDINGS
6. ISUPETASYS
7. WOORIFINANCIALGROUP
8. SHINHAN FINANCIAL GR
9. DOOSAN BOBCAT
10. ECOPRO MAT
11. COSMO AM&T
12. LG ENERGY SOLUTION
13. SSANGYONG CEMENT
14. HYUNDAI MTR
15. MIRAE ASSET SEC
16. KUMYANG
17. BNK FINANCIAL GROUP
18. DAEWOO SHIPBUILDING
19. HDKSOE
20. HANWHA AEROSPACE
21. SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS
22. KOGAS
23. LOTTE CHEMICAL CORP
24. KIA MTR
25. COCOA
26. HTL SHILLA
27. DB INSURANCE
28. NCSOFT extension
29. YUHAN
30. AMORE GROUP
31. IBK
32. KUMHO PETRO CHEM
33. LS ELECTRIC
34. HANA FINANCIAL GR
35. HANMI SCIENCE
36. AMOREPACIFIC
37. CELLTRION
38. NHIS
39. POSCO HOLDINGS
40. JB FINANCIAL GROUP
41. LG CHEM
42. KBFINANCIALGROUP
43. KUMHO TIRE
44. NAVER
45. BGF RETAIL
46. HANMI SEMI
47. KANGWON LAND INC
48. COWAY
49. PANOCEAN
50. SAMSUNG SDI CO.,LTD.
51. HANJINKAL
52. SHINHAN FINANCIAL GR
53. SK INNOVATION
54. TAIHAN ELEC WIRE
55. HANMIPHARM
56. SAMSUNG C&T
57. DOOSAN ENERBLITY
58. KOR ZINK
59. LIG NEX1
60. SAMYANG FOOD
61. HANWHA SOLUTIONS
62. NETMARBLE
63. GS HOLDINGS
64. SAMSUNG CARD
65. HANON SYSTEMS
66. MOVES
67. KEPCO E&C
68. SK TELECOM
69. LG ELECTRONICS INC
70. CRAFTON
71. SKQUARE
72. ORION
73. HYOSUNG HEAVY
74. CJ LOGISTICS
75. NONGSHIM

How KOSPI works

The KOSPI is a market capitalization weighted index, meaning that each stock's weight in the index is proportional to its market capitalization. A company's market capitalization is the product of the number of shares outstanding and the share price.

The KOSPI index is calculated using the following method:

1. We first calculate the total market capitalization of the 200 stocks that make up the index.
2. We then divide the total market capitalization by a division factor. The split factor is adjusted periodically to account for changes in the total market capitalization of the index.
3. The final result is multiplied by 100 to obtain the KOSPI index value.

KOSPI calculation

Calculating KOSPI is a complex process that involves several steps. The exact calculation formula is not publicly disclosed by the Korea Stock Exchange. However, the basic principles of calculation are described above.

Importance of KOSPI

The KOSPI is an important indicator of the health of the South Korean economy. It is followed by investors around the world and is used as a benchmark for investment funds and derivatives.

The KOSPI can also impact the Korean won. When the index increases, the value of the currency tends to increase as well. Conversely, when the index falls, the value of the currency tends to fall.

Conclusion

The KOSPI is a major stock index that tracks the stock performance of South Korea's most liquid companies. The index is an important indicator of the health of the South Korean economy and is followed by investors around the world.