The Korea Exchange (KRX) launched its first after-hours trading session on September 14, operating from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. local time. The debut recorded a turnover of approximately ₩1.8 trillion, or $1.33 billion, which accounts for about 7% of the average daily volume.
Retail investors drove the activity, accounting for 93% of the total turnover. In contrast, foreign investors contributed 3.9%, while institutional participation remained minimal. The session involved 72.24 million shares across 2,501 stocks, covering over 95% of KOSPI and Kosdaq listings.
The session experienced significant price swings, leading to 1,637 volatility halts. This figure is more than four times the typical frequency observed during standard daytime trading, which usually sees around 400 halts. For instance, Hanwha Galleria shares surged 14.6% before retreating.
Analysts identified a liquidity gap as the primary challenge for the new session. Institutional investors and algorithmic trading firms largely remained on the sidelines, as many mandates restrict trading to core hours or require further strategy calibration for the extended window.
