![An electronic board showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index at a dealing room of the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul on Tuesday. (Yonhap)]](https://contents-cdn.viewus.co.kr/image/2025/07/CP-2023-0309/30476258.jpg)
South Korean stocks rallied for the second straight day on Tuesday, buoyed by investor relief following U.S. President Donald Trump’s letters to trade partners extending the deadline for tariff talks to early next month. The Korean won edged lower against the U.S. dollar.
Trading was brisk, with 735.5 million shares worth 13.2 trillion won (9.65 billion USD) changing hands. Advancers outpaced decliners 643 to 240.
Foreign investors led the charge, snapping up a net 251.6 billion won (188.7 million USD) in stocks, while institutions purchased a net 21.6 billion won (16.2 million USD). Individual investors, however, offloaded a net 263.1 billion won (197.3 million USD).
Earlier in the day, Trump disclosed a letter addressed to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, stating that the U.S. would begin imposing 25 percent tariffs on South Korean goods starting August 1.
Similar letters were sent to Japan and other countries.
Analysts noted that while the letter’s content was unfavorable for South Korea, it helped dispel some uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariff policies.
Washington had implemented country-specific reciprocal tariffs in April but instituted a 90-day pause, which was set to expire Tuesday.
Financial and energy sectors were the day’s top performers.
Hana Financial Group skyrocketed 10.27 percent to 94,500 won (70.88 USD), while Woori Financial Group jumped 8.32 percent to 25,400 won (19.05 USD).
Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance climbed 5.11 percent to 463,000 won (347.25 USD), and Kyobo Securities leaped 9.1 percent to 9,110 won (6.83 USD).
Korea Electric Power Corp. gained 4.46 percent to 38,650 won (28.99 USD), and Doosan Enerbility advanced 5.88 percent to 66,600 won (49.95 USD).
Automakers also ended in the green, with industry leader Hyundai Motor rising 1.2 percent to 211,000 won (158.25 USD) and its affiliate Kia inching up 0.51 percent to 99,100 won (74.33 USD).
However, tech giant Samsung Electronics dipped 0.49 percent to 61,400 won (46.05 USD) following its weaker-than-anticipated second-quarter earnings guidance. The world’s largest memory chip manufacturer estimated a 55.9 percent year-on-year plunge in its second-quarter operating profit, citing a sluggish chip market and the fallout from U.S. trade policies. The forecast fell short of market expectations.
The Korean won closed at 1,367.9 against the U.S. dollar, down 0.1 won from the previous session’s close. (Yonhap)
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