Korean Stock Market Sentiment · Updated Daily

The KOSPI Fear & Greed Index

One number for the mood of the Korean market — built from momentum, volatility, the won, and what foreign investors are doing.

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KOSPI
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Today
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Sentiment
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Yesterday
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1 Week Ago
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1 Month Ago
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What it's reading right now: checking the latest KOSPI sentiment data…
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The four components

The index is an equally weighted average of four readings — each one a different angle on how Korean investors are behaving. No single component is treated as more important than another.

Market Momentum
Weight 25%
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Where the KOSPI sits relative to its 125-day moving average. Well above trend leans greed; well below leans fear.
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Volatility
Weight 25%
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Downside deviation of daily KOSPI returns versus its recent average. Rising downside volatility signals fear.
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Safe-Haven Demand
Weight 25%
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The USD/KRW exchange rate. A sharply weakening won is a classic risk-off tell for Korean assets.
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Foreign Investor Flow
Weight 25%
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Net buying or selling by overseas investors — one of the three forces that move the Korean market.
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Who's moving the market

Three forces trade Korean stocks: overseas investors, domestic institutions, and individuals. Their net buying and selling almost always sums to roughly zero — when foreigners sell, someone is on the other side. The split tells you who is positioning where. Treat it as context, not prediction.

Foreigners
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Institutions
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Individuals
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Net buying and selling of KOSPI shares by overseas investors, recent sessions.
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Latest session
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Last 5 sessions
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Direction
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03

How sentiment has shifted

The same index, at four points in the past — and the full historical line, going back as far as the data allows.

Previous Close
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1 Week Ago
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1 Month Ago
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1 Year Ago
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KOSPI Fear & Greed — historical readings
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F&G score (left axis, 0–100) KOSPI close (right axis) Bands mark sentiment zones. CSV includes both series plus the label for every date.
Download CSV
04

How the index is built

Plain and honest about what this measures — and what it doesn't.

The scale

Every reading lands on a 0–100 scale. Lower is fear, higher is greed:

0–20 Extreme Fear 20–40 Fear 40–60 Neutral 60–80 Greed 80–100 Extreme Greed

The four components, equally weighted

Each contributes 25%. They are weighted equally on purpose — we don't claim that one dimension of sentiment reliably matters more than another, so we don't pretend to by tilting the weights.

  • Market Momentum (25%) — the KOSPI relative to its 125-day moving average. The further above trend, the more the reading leans greed.
  • Volatility (25%) — the downside deviation of daily KOSPI returns versus its recent average. We use downside deviation specifically so a calm market and a violently rising market aren't both scored as "fear."
  • Safe-Haven Demand (25%) — the USD/KRW exchange rate. The won tends to weaken when global or local risk appetite drops, making it a useful Korea-specific risk gauge.
  • Foreign Investor Flow (25%) — net buying or selling of KOSPI shares by overseas investors, smoothed over recent sessions.

What this is — and isn't

This is a sentiment thermometer: a normalized, easy-to-read snapshot of the Korean market's current mood. It is a contrarian reference point, in the same spirit as the original US Fear & Greed Index.

It is not a forecast and not a buy/sell signal. The components describe conditions that already exist; they don't predict where the KOSPI goes next. Extreme readings are worth noticing, but the market can stay fearful — or greedy — for a long time. Use this as one input among many, never as a decision on its own.

Data & updates

KOSPI levels, price history, and the USD/KRW rate come from public market data. Foreign investor net-flow figures come from publicly reported Korean market data. The index is recomputed each Korean trading day after the KOSPI close.

Early-deployment note. The Foreign Investor Flow component is percentile-ranked against its own trailing history. During the first ~60 days after launch, that history is thin — so the component can read more extremely than the raw flows alone suggest. The score stabilises as the cron accumulates more sessions; this note is here so you know how to read it during the early window.
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Frequently asked questions

What is the KOSPI Fear & Greed Index?
It's a daily reading of Korean stock market sentiment on a 0–100 scale. A score near 0 means Extreme Fear — investors are risk-averse and selling. A score near 100 means Extreme Greed — investors are confident and buying. It's a contrarian reference point that describes the market's current mood, not a forecast of where prices go next.
How is it calculated?
It combines four components, each weighted equally at 25%: Market Momentum (the KOSPI versus its 125-day moving average), Volatility (downside deviation of daily KOSPI returns), Safe-Haven Demand (the USD/KRW exchange rate), and Foreign Investor Flow (net buying or selling by overseas investors). Each is normalized to a 0–100 score, then averaged.
Why are foreign investors important to the KOSPI?
Overseas investors are one of the three main forces in the Korean market, alongside domestic institutions and individuals, and their net buying or selling often sets the market's direction. Sustained foreign selling has historically pressured the KOSPI; foreign buying has supported rallies. We show foreign flow as context for understanding who is moving the market — it's informative, not a trading signal.
What does Extreme Fear mean for the KOSPI?
Extreme Fear (score 0–20) means sentiment is highly risk-averse: the KOSPI is weak relative to its trend, volatility is elevated, the won is under pressure, and foreign investors are typically net sellers. Extreme readings are often discussed as contrarian reference points — but markets can stay fearful for extended periods.
What does Extreme Greed mean for the KOSPI?
Extreme Greed (score 80–100) means sentiment is very confident: the KOSPI is well above its trend, volatility is low, the won is stable or strong, and foreign investors are typically net buyers. Markets can remain greedy for a long time, so a high reading describes mood — it isn't a sell signal.
Where does the data come from?
KOSPI index levels, price history, and the USD/KRW exchange rate come from public market data. Foreign investor net-flow figures come from publicly reported Korean market data. The index is recomputed each Korean trading day after the market close.
Is this a buy or sell signal?
No. It's a sentiment thermometer — a normalized, easy-to-read snapshot of market mood. It is not a forecast and should not be used on its own to make investment decisions. It's intended as one reference point among many. Always consult a qualified financial professional before investing.
How often is the index updated?
It's recalculated each Korean trading day after the KOSPI closes. The page shows the most recent completed reading, plus the previous close, one week, one month, and one year prior for trend context.