Domestic and international investors gathered in Seoul for the 2026 KB Financial Group Korea Conference, where speakers examined South Korea’s stock market through the competing lenses of semiconductor-cycle stability and AI investment risk. KB Financial Group chairman Yang Jong-hee said the country’s capital markets were at a critical turning point as value-up initiatives improve fundamentals. The KOSPI rose 1.40% to 7,051.64, returning above 7,000 at the close for the first time in 33 trading sessions, while the KOSDAQ gained 2.28% to 830.37. Speakers said long-term supply agreements with hyperscalers could make semiconductor earnings more predictable, although concentrated AI spending could revive industry volatility if investment slows. Jefferies global head of equity strategy Christopher Wood warned that hyperscaler spending could ultimately produce large-scale capital destruction. A separate KB Securities report projected that competition among AI models will drive a strong memory upcycle, with supply constraints potentially lasting through 2028.