Korea Exchange to Introduce Extended After Hours Trading Starting September 14

The Korea Exchange (KRX) will implement a new real-time after hours trading session for stocks listed on the Kospi and Kosdaq exchanges, beginning September 14, 2026. This initiative follows approval from the Financial Services Commission and aims to enhance trading efficiency by allowing continuous order matching from 4 PM to 8 PM Korea Standard Time (KST). Previously, after hours trading was limited to a 10-minute auction system, which traders criticized for its slow response to market developments.

The regular trading session will continue until 3:30 PM, followed by a closing price session from 3:40 PM to 4 PM. The new after hours market will enable traders to react more swiftly to earnings reports, corporate actions, and global news, improving price discovery. However, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and exchange-traded notes (ETNs) will not be included in this rollout due to concerns about market volatility, along with stocks classified under administrative issues or low liquidity.

This move is partly a response to competition from Nextrade, an alternative trading platform that has gained over 30% market share since its launch in March 2026, in part due to its extended trading hours and lower fees. KRX has noted the global trend towards longer trading hours, aligning its operations with major exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. A 23-week simulation of the new system was conducted to ensure stability before its launch, with KRX indicating potential future expansions based on the performance of the after hours trading session.

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Source: KLEA News