The Korea Exchange will trial evening trading next week to test global demand

The main securities exchange in South Korea will trial evening trading next Monday, extending the trading hours for almost all local stocks until 8 PM, up from the regular closing time of 3:30 PM.

This adjustment is the first of its kind among major exchanges in Asia and is a step towards the Korea Exchange's goal of achieving 24-hour trading by December 2027. The new trading period will test whether the market can maintain sufficient liquidity after the extended trading hours and whether there is actual demand from investors for additional trading periods.

Lee Young-jae, a senior investment manager at London-based Baillie Gifford, stated that a longer trading window can enhance investor flexibility and may attract more trading-oriented investors with higher turnover rates, as well as hedge fund participation. Edward Kim, head of Korean equity sales at Bank of America, noted that this is another step in the continuous development of South Korea's capital markets and enhancing accessibility for global investors.