The Korea Exchange imposed a five-minute buy-side sidecar on Aug. 12, 2026 after a semiconductor-led rally pushed the Kospi sharply higher and lifted KOSPI 200 futures to the exchange's trigger threshold. Program trading for Kospi-listed shares was suspended at 11:57 a.m. As of 12:15 p.m., the Kospi was up 315.69 points, or 4.97%, at 6,661.22 after opening 1.47% higher. The sidecar is activated when KOSPI 200 futures rise 5% or more for at least one minute, a mechanism designed to slow abrupt market moves and give investors time to absorb volatility.