NewTimeSpace News: On March 18, South Korean equities staged a powerful rally throughout the session. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) soared 4.67% intraday, breaching the 5900 level, prompting the Korea Exchange to trigger a circuit breaker on KOSPI 200 futures after they surged 5%.Xtrackers MSCI Korea UCITS ETF(02848.HK) opened strong and maintained upward momentum, jumping over 7% in afternoon trading.

According to Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) data,Xtrackers MSCI Korea UCITS ETF(02848.HK) tracks the MSCI Korea 20/35 Custom Index—a "capped index" designed by MSCI to comply with EU UCITS fund regulatory requirements. This index maintains representation and investability across South Korea's large- and mid-cap equity market while mitigating single-company concentration risk through strict weight caps. Notable constituents in the top ten include SK Hynix, Samsung Electronics, NAVER, Hyundai Motor, and Shinhan Financial Group.

South Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok stated at a cabinet meeting that the government will deploy all available policy tools, including supplementary budgets, to minimize the economic impact of the Middle East conflict. While closely monitoring international oil prices, authorities are considering fuel tax reductions. Should any signs of economic instability emerge, the government will respond swiftly and decisively.

If necessary, South Korea will further expand its existing market stabilization scheme, which currently exceeds 100 trillion won. The government will also coordinate with the central bank to promptly enhance market stabilization measures, including emergency repo operations and direct purchases of government bonds.

Wall Street strategists noted that South Korean equities appear less crowded than a month ago and still look relatively cheap. Corporate governance reforms, similar to those that helped lift Japanese valuations in recent years, enjoy bipartisan support. Once the energy shock dissipates, the KOSPI's wild ride may resume—though investors should brace for even greater volatility than ever before.

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