The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) surged over 1.6% to hit a fresh all-time high, while Xtrackers MSCI Korea UCITS ETF (02848.HK) saw a dramatic rally before midday, jumping nearly 3%.

NewTimeSpace Market Watch: On January 27, South Korea's benchmark KOSPI index initially dropped over 1% at the open following President Trump's tariff hike announcement, but subsequently staged a powerful rebound driven by buying momentum. The index has now climbed above the 5,030 level to hit a fresh all-time high. Xtrackers MSCI Korea UCITS ETF (02848.HK) saw a dramatic rally before midday, surging nearly 3%. Notably, the fund has delivered a return exceeding 114% over the past year.

According to HKEX data, TR Korea (02848.HK) tracks the MSCI Korea 20/35 Custom Index—a "capped index" designed by MSCI to comply with EU UCITS fund regulations. The index maintains representation and investability across South Korea's large- and mid-cap equity market while mitigating single-company concentration risk through hard weight caps. Major holdings include SK Hynix, Samsung Electronics, NAVER, Hyundai Motor, and Shinhan Financial Group, all among the top ten constituents.

On Monday (January 26) local time, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that tariff rates on South Korean goods would be raised from 15% back to 25%, citing the South Korean National Assembly's failure to ratify and implement a previously negotiated trade agreement. Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social, accusing the Korean legislature of failing to honor its agreement with the United States.

Meanwhile, a report released by the Korea International Trade Association's Institute for International Trade highlights that South Korea ranks fourth globally in industrial robot installations and first in robot density. Looking ahead, the country must drive a strategic shift from its traditional focus on manufacturing and application toward building a stable, self-sufficient supply chain system—a transformation that will determine the long-term competitiveness of its robotics industry.

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