Kosdaq marks 30th anniversary with relaunch push as 'KOSDAQ CONNECT 2026' opens

Korea Exchange has launched KOSDAQ CONNECT 2026, a three-day investor relations event running Tuesday through Thursday to mark the 30th anniversary of the Kosdaq market. Co-organized with the Korea IR Association and the Kosdaq Association, the event is the largest IR gathering on the Kosdaq, drawing listed companies, institutional investors, investment banks, venture capital firms and retail investors. This year's edition is drawing particular attention as a gauge of whether investor sentiment in the sluggish market can recover, with the government set to unveil Kosdaq revitalization policies alongside corporate IR sessions.

The opening ceremony was held Tuesday morning at the Conrad Seoul hotel in Yeouido. Attendees included Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Eok-won, Financial Supervisory Service Vice Chairman Hwang Seon-o, Oh Gi-hyeong — chair of the Democratic Party of Korea's Korea Premium K-Capital Market Special Committee — Kosdaq Association President Lee Dong-hun, Korea Venture Business Association President Song Byeong-jun, Korea Venture Capital Association President Kim Hak-gyun, Konex Association President Hwang Chang-sun, Korea Capital Market Institute President Kim Se-wan, and chief executives of Kosdaq-listed companies. The gathering focused on the future direction of the Kosdaq market.

Korea Exchange Chairman Jeong Eun-bo said in his opening remarks that the exchange would "actively pursue structural improvements to transform Kosdaq into a trusted market." He added that the goal was to build "a market where productive finance works best, through the efficient allocation and virtuous cycle of venture capital." Jeong said he hoped KOSDAQ CONNECT 2026 would "serve as a meaningful event for enhancing corporate value."

Tuesday's program includes a presentation on Kosdaq's 30-year achievements and road map, a panel discussion on the market's development, a lecture on trends in the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries, and a CEO forum featuring executives from leading Kosdaq companies. Wednesday will see announcements on structural market improvements, expansion of customized technology-assessment special listings, and support measures for Kosdaq MoneyMove and Konex growth. Thursday's agenda covers corporate value enhancement — or "value-up" — and improvements to the disclosure regime.

During the event, 47 Kosdaq-listed companies will hold IR sessions for domestic and foreign institutional investors, including Alteogen, ABL Bio, HPSP, PSK, Robotis, PharmaResearch, Classys, Silicon2, Rznomics, Orum Therapeutics, Voronoi and Oscotec.

The policies to be unveiled at the event are follow-up measures to the government's "Capital Market Structural Improvement Plan" announced in March. The Financial Services Commission is pursuing a two-track strategy to reshape Kosdaq into a market centered on innovative companies — tightening the exit of underperforming firms while expanding the supply of venture capital to growth-stage companies.

Stricter delisting standards took effect Tuesday. The minimum market capitalization required to maintain a Kosdaq listing has been raised from 15 billion won ($9.69 million) to 20 billion won, and delisting requirements will now also apply to stocks trading below 1,000 won. The customized technology-assessment special listing scheme will also be expanded beyond biotech to cover AI, space and energy sectors.

Plans are also advancing to broaden venture capital supply through a public-participation National Growth Fund and a Business Development Company vehicle. The measures are designed to widen retail investors' access to innovative companies and strengthen the funding base for growth-stage firms.

Market watchers are closely following whether the revitalization policies unveiled at the event can reignite investor sentiment in the depressed Kosdaq market. Han Ji-young, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, said that because Kosdaq is highly sensitive to policy shifts, "if expectations for the revitalization measures spread at KOSDAQ CONNECT 2026, that could become a key factor determining the strength of any future rebound."