The Korean market moved decisively on news that signaled an easing of Middle East tensions and a major index inclusion: the KOSPI surged 8.44% to 5,478.7 points while the Korean currency strengthened, closing at 1,501.3 won per US dollar after a 28.8‑won gain. These moves were reported in real time and attributed to both signals from former U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting an end to the Middle East war and South Korea’s forthcoming inclusion in the WGBI (World Government Bond Index).

Equities led the move higher, with heavyweight technology names posting especially large gains. According to the available reports, 삼성전자 (Samsung Electronics) and other major tech stocks climbed more than 11.5%, a sharp rally that helped lift the broader KOSPI to its strong close. Market commentators noted that the scale of the advance generated heightened trading volume and volatility, placing the session among the day’s most notable market events across major news outlets.

The foreign exchange reaction was equally pronounced. The Korean won appreciated by 28.8 won against the dollar to finish at 1,501.3, reflecting investor demand for Korean assets as geopolitical risk appeared to recede. Market participants linked the currency’s strength both to improved prospects for stability in the U.S.–Iran sphere and to expectations that WGBI inclusion will attract foreign portfolio flows into Korean government bonds.

Inclusion in the WGBI is widely viewed as a structural positive because it tends to draw long‑term foreign institutional buyers of sovereign debt; the provided notes indicate that this technical factor was counted alongside geopolitical developments in driving demand for Korean assets. At the same time, signals of de‑escalation in the Middle East shifted market sentiment toward a risk‑on stance, amplifying gains in cyclically and growth‑oriented sectors such as technology.

The Korea Times coverage on 2026‑04‑02 highlighted these twin drivers — geopolitical easing and index inclusion — as the principal explanations for the abrupt market repricing. Available reports indicate the session’s ranking among daily movers was determined by real‑time media coverage, trading volume, and volatility, underlining how quickly both prices and market attention can change when geopolitical and structural news coincide.