Korean stock market evaporated by 270 trillion won over the past year...Exchange Rate Up by KRW 180

[Anchor]
Our last stock market closed mixed this year.

Global stock markets have generally risen this year, but our stock markets have suffered a "single recession,"

In one year, the market capitalization of our stock market has evaporated by 270 trillion won.

Reporter Ryu Hwan-hong reports.

[Reporter]
On the last trading day of the year, the Kospi fell 0.2% to close at 2,399.49, breaking the 2,400-point mark.

On the other hand, the KOSDAQ index rose 1.8% to close at 678.19.

Global stock markets, including the U.S. and Asian stocks, have generally risen this year, but our stock market has performed poorly alone.

Compared to the beginning of the year, the KOSPI fell 10 percent and the KOSDAQ index fell 22 percent.

This is in stark contrast to the 33% rise in the U.S. Nasdaq and the 20% rise in Japan's Nikkei.

As the index fell, the market capitalization fell by 184 trillion won on the KOSPI market and 86 trillion won on the KOSDAQ market, all of which evaporated by 270 trillion won.

It was good until the first half of the year, but in the second half of the year, foreigners turned from net buying to net selling due to slowing export growth and poor performance of Samsung Electronics, and the "Western Ant" left our stock market for the U.S. stock market also increased.

In addition, political instability and sluggish domestic demand, following the won-dollar exchange rate and martial law shock that soared after Trump's election, also played a negative role.

[Huh Jae-hwan / Managing director of Eugene Investment & Securities: Especially towards the end of the year, domestic issues such as the impeachment issue and the recent Jeju Air issue at Muan Airport have led to relatively bad exports of the domestic stock market, but it is also very difficult in terms of domestic consumption..]

The won-dollar exchange rate, which started at 1,293 won at the beginning of the year, will end at 1,472 won, up 180 won over the year after Trump's election, the U.S. FOMC's hawkish interest rate cut and impeachment.

I'm YTN's Ryu Hwan Hong.