Seoul, Jan 18, 2026, 01:28 KST — The market has closed.
- Shares of SK hynix ended at 756,000 won, rising 0.9%.
- South Korea reports that the new U.S. tariff on certain advanced AI chips currently does not cover memory chips.
- Traders are eyeing tariff developments and SK hynix’s earnings report due Jan. 29.
SK hynix (000660.KS) shares ended Friday up 0.93%, closing at 756,000 won after swinging between 747,000 and 763,000, according to Investing.com. The stock heads into the next Seoul session under the shadow of a new U.S. tariff action, with no chance to respond until Monday. (Investing)
The trade angle is crucial now since chip giants have been driving much of South Korea’s market rally. SK hynix stands out as a key player, with foreign investment flows frequently tracking these familiar names.
SK hynix is focusing on high-bandwidth memory, or HBM — those stacked memory chips that boost data speeds alongside top-tier AI processors. Investors see it as a stand-in for the AI supply chain, which means policy risks hit it from both sides.
South Korea’s trade minister said Saturday that the U.S. 25% tariff on certain advanced AI chips should have limited immediate impact on South Korean firms, since memory chips are excluded in the first phase. Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo cautioned it’s “not yet time to be reassured,” pointing to uncertainty over a potential second phase that could expand coverage. This follows the White House’s narrow initial scope and comments from U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick warning of higher tariffs for companies that don’t invest in U.S. production. (Reuters)
South Korea’s Kospi surged past 4,800 on Friday, setting a new record, driven by retail investors buying despite foreign and institutional selling, according to Korea JoongAng Daily. Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Chang-yong cautioned that the market “could face corrections at any time,” even though low price-to-book ratios point to potential gains, the paper added. (Korea JoongAng Daily)
Overnight signals came in mixed. U.S. stocks closed almost unchanged Friday, while a semiconductor index jumped 1.2%, Reuters noted. Wall Street will be closed Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. “Historically the middle part of January tends to be pretty choppy,” said Bruce Zaro of Granite Wealth Management. (Reuters)
Company-specific news is coming through. SK hynix plans to relaunch its “Shareholder Participation Program” this month, Seoul Economic Daily reports. Employees who convert part of their performance bonus into company stock and hold it for a year will receive a 15% cash premium. Applications are open until Jan. 22. The outlet also noted that lawmakers might push for changes to treasury stock rules as soon as Jan. 21—a regulatory risk SK hynix has flagged internally. (Seoul Economic Daily)
Still, the bigger question for traders remains unsettled: will Washington contain tariffs, or begin dragging more of the semiconductor supply chain into the dispute? Even rumors alone can send multiples swinging when a stock is priced as a clear AI winner.
When Seoul reopens, traders will zero in on the won, foreign positioning, and whether the global chip rally holds up without a full slate of U.S. market cues. Any sudden U.S. semiconductor sell-off usually hits Korean chip stocks fast.
SK hynix is set to report its FY2025 Q4 earnings on Jan. 29, a key date for investors seeking updates on pricing trends, supply commitments, and management’s outlook on demand heading into early 2026. (Skhynix)
