South Korea's AI-fueled stock market rebounds to cap a brutal week

South Korea’s AI-driven stock market rebound capped a volatile week as investors weighed swings in AI-related shares. The Kospi index rose more than 8% intraday on Friday and closed 4.6% higher, ending a week of sharp reversals that included a Monday slide of over 8% driven by a tech retreat in the United States. The week’s performance left the Kospi down 0.5% after a 3.7% drop the prior week, underscoring the market’s sensitivity to AI exposure. Since the start of 2025, the Kospi has more than tripled, highlighting outsized gains and persistent volatility in South Korea’s tech-led market.