Key trading rules and mechanisms on the Korea Exchange.
1.1 Supported Markets
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Market
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Description
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KOSPI (Main Board)
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Main board listed company stocks
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KOSDAQ (Growth Board)
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Technology / growth enterprise stocks
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Note: Only common stocks are supported. ETFs, ETNs, ELWs and other derivative products are not supported.
1.2 Daily Price Limit
Individual stock prices can move up to ±30% from the previous closing price per trading day
Orders placed outside the price limit range will be rejected
Orders at the limit price can still be submitted but may not be filled.
1.3 Circuit Breaker
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Level
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Trigger Condition
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Market Action
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Level 1
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Index falls >8% from previous close (persists 1 min)
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Market-wide halt for 20 min; only cancellations allowed; 10-min call auction on resume
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Level 2
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Index falls >15% from previous close, and ≥1% further from Level 1 trigger
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Same as Level 1
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Level 3
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Index falls >20% from previous close, and ≥1% further from Level 2 trigger
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Trading terminated for the day; no orders accepted
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Each level can only trigger once per day. Level 1/2 circuit breakers do not trigger after 14:50 KST (13:50 SGT).
1.4 Volatility Interruption (VI)
Static VI: Triggered when a stock deviates ≥10% from previous closing price; pauses trading for 2 minutes
Dynamic VI: Triggered when price deviates ≥3–6% from the most recent execution price; pauses trading for 2 minutes
1.5 Short Selling
Short selling is currently prohibited for individual investors on Korean exchanges
Only institutional and foreign institutional investors may short sell under regulated conditions
Circuit breakers and volatility interruptions are protective mechanisms. During these pauses, orders can be submitted but will not be matched until trading resumes.
1.6 Account Requirement
Only comprehensive securities accounts (margin accounts) are supported for trading Korean stocks. Cash accounts are not supported.