On September 16, reports surfaced indicating that South Korea’s stock market trading volume had plummeted to its lowest level of the year, reflecting a notable decline in investor enthusiasm. This trend suggests that the market, which holds significant weight in the AI sector, may face challenges in reclaiming its former peaks. In September, the average daily trading volume for South Korea’s KOSPI index dropped to KRW 20.6 trillion (approximately USD 15 billion)—the smallest figure since 2026 and less than half of the peak levels recorded in May and June. Earlier in the year, spurred by the AI boom, frenzied buying from retail investors propelled the South Korean stock market to new heights. However, subsequent doubts about returns triggered a sharp 22% sell-off on July 22. While the benchmark index has since staged a partial recovery, it has struggled to consistently maintain levels above the critical 7,000-point threshold. Analyst Jason Minsang Kam noted that volatility is expected to further decrease, concerns over the chip cycle should ease, and the index is likely to fluctuate within a defined range.