What changed in South Korea’s new KRX after-hours stock trading session?

The Korea Exchange opened a real-time after-hours session for stocks listed on KOSPI and Kosdaq from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Most listed stocks on the two markets became available in the new session, unlike the NXT platform, which had limited trading to 600 stocks.

Why did the Korea Exchange launch an after-hours stock market session?

A KRX official said the move is aimed at laying the foundation for competition with global markets. The official pointed to major U.S. exchanges, including Nasdaq, which are set to begin 23-hour trading by the end of this year to attract liquidity.

1.8 tln won traded in first KRX after-hours stock trading session

Q: What trading rules applied to the KRX after-hours session?

The session followed the regular 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. market and ran under stock price limits and market stabilization measures such as circuit breakers. ETFs and ETNs were excluded because of concerns about volatility.

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Summary

The Korea Exchange opened its first after-hours stock trading session Monday, and 1.8 trillion won worth of stocks changed hands. Investors could trade KOSPI and Kosdaq stocks in real time from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. after the regular session. The KRX said the new session is meant to help lay the foundation for competition with global markets. ETFs and ETNs were barred from the session, and circuit breakers and daily price limits applied.

Key Facts

During the four-hour session, 72.24 million shares worth 1.82 trillion won changed hands on the two markets.
That trading accounted for 8.03 percent of the 900 million shares and 7.05 percent of the 25.8 trillion won traded during the regular session.
Until Friday, after-hours stock trading was available only on the alternative trading system Nextrade from 3:40 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Monday, 12.17 million shares worth 1.78 trillion won were traded on the NXT platform.
Investors were barred from trading exchange-traded funds and exchange-traded notes during the four-hour session because of market volatility concerns.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 15, 2026 12:12 am KST

The Korea Exchange (KRX) in Yeouido, Seoul, is seen with its after-hours market open on Monday. Yonhap

A total of 1.8 trillion won ($1.33 billion) worth of stocks were traded during South Korea's first after-hours stock trading session Monday, the Korea Exchange (KRX) said.

On the first day of the new session, investors were able to trade stocks listed on the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) and the tech-heavy Kosdaq in real time for four hours from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., following the regular 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. trading session, according to the KRX.

"With major U.S. stock exchanges, such as Nasdaq, set to begin 23-hour trading by the end of this year to attract liquidity, the move is aimed at laying the foundation for competition with global markets," a KRX official said.

During the four-hour session, a total of 72.24 million shares worth 1.82 trillion won changed hands on the two markets, accounting for 8.03 percent and 7.05 percent, respectively, of the 900 million shares worth 25.8 trillion won traded during the regular session from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Until Friday, after-hours stock trading was available only on the alternative trading system Nextrade (NXT) from 3:40 p.m. to 8 p.m.

On Monday, a total of 12.17 million shares worth 1.78 trillion won were traded on the NXT platform.

Unlike the NXT platform, where the number of stocks available for trading has been limited to 600, most stocks listed on the two markets became available for trading during the new four-hour after-hours session.

However, investors are barred from trading exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and exchange-traded notes (ETNs) during the four-hour session due to concerns about market volatility.

Daily stock price limits and market stabilization measures, such as circuit breakers, also apply to the after-hours session.

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