South Korea Stocks Jump After Lee’s Inauguration

South Korea’s stock market surged to a 10-month high after President Lee Jae-myung’s inauguration, with the Kospi index surpassing 2,800 amid strong foreign and institutional buying. Investor optimism was fueled by Lee’s aggressive economic revival pledges, including a supplementary budget of at least 30 trillion won and the launch of an emergency economic task force. Semiconductor and financial stocks led gains, supported by a 50.9% year-on-year jump in chip exports. The rally also reflected relief after prolonged political instability, with hopes that unified government control will streamline policy implementation. Regional optimism and a global tech rally contributed to the upswing, though US trade policies and tariffs remain a concern. The Korean won also appreciated against the US dollar, signaling strengthened market confidence.