Korea Exchange
The Korea Exchange (KRX) is accelerating efforts to attract advanced innovation companies in artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors to list on KOSDAQ. The bourse operator has held successive meetings with leading domestic AI companies including DEEPX, Rebellions and FuriosaAI, moving to strengthen the competitiveness of the KOSDAQ market. As demand for technology special listings continues on KOSDAQ this year, the exchange is actively joining the race to secure AI firms.
According to the Korea Exchange on Tuesday, a total of 14 companies have newly listed on KOSDAQ this year as of the same day, excluding special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs). Of these, seven were technology firms, accounting for half. Another 30 companies are currently undergoing listing review, including 15 general firms, 14 technology firms and one SPAC. A total of 15 companies have passed preliminary examination.
Earlier, financial authorities announced they would push forward a “capital market stabilization and structural improvement plan,” including expansion of the customized technology special listing system on KOSDAQ. In addition to the existing fields of biotech, AI, space and energy, six new fields — including advanced robotics, K-content and cybersecurity — will be added this year. Introduced in 2005, the technology special listing system allows companies recognized for their technology and growth potential to list on the stock market even without revenue or profit, supporting new industry firms’ entry into the capital market.
The exchange is putting particular effort into attracting AI firms to KOSDAQ. In January this year, Min Kyung-wook, Vice Chairman of the KOSDAQ Market Division, personally visited AI and semiconductor companies including Primemas, Point2 Technology and DEEPX during a business trip to the United States to hear their views on a KOSDAQ listing. He subsequently conducted company visits and meetings domestically with major AI firms including Rebellions, FuriosaAI and DEEPX, fully deploying the drive to attract them to the KOSDAQ market. “The KOSDAQ market has developed alongside the growth of innovative technology firms and is enhancing market confidence,” Min said. “Global competitiveness and market validation will become important in strategic industries such as AI semiconductors.”
The exchange is particularly expanding contact with DEEPX, regarded as a leading player in Korea’s AI semiconductor industry. Founded in 2018, DEEPX is an on-device AI semiconductor fabless firm that has indicated its intention to prepare for a listing in Korea. DEEPX is developing the “DX-M1” AI chip for image and video processing and the “DX-M2” for generative AI. While priced at 20% to 50% of competing products from Nvidia and Qualcomm, its computing performance is rated at up to 1.5 times higher.
AI firms’ entry into the KOSDAQ market is also increasing rapidly. Among advanced industry firms that newly listed on KOSDAQ last year, eight were AI companies. This marks a significant rise compared with only three AI firm listings each in 2023 and 2024. The exchange explained that the AI industry, centered on AI application service (API) firms, is emerging as a new growth driver.
Semiconductor firms are also returning to the market as the chip industry recovers. The number of newly listed semiconductor firms reached 17 in 2023 before falling to six in 2024. Last year, the figure rose again to nine, showing an upward trend.
KRX Chairman Jeong Eun-bo also held a meeting on the 4th of this month with chief executive officers of leading domestic AI firms including DEEPX, Lablup, Rebellions, Upstage and FuriosaAI to discuss KOSDAQ listings. At the meeting, Jeong said, “We will actively support leading domestic AI firms producing outstanding results so they do not face difficulties in the listing preparation process.”