The KOSPI rose for a 10th straight session and ended just short of the 4,800 mark.

On Jan. 15, the KOSPI closed up 74.45 points, or 1.58 percent, at 4,797.55. The index opened at 4,710.28, down 12.82 points, or 0.27 percent, from the previous session, and swung early before turning higher to end at the intraday high.

It again set a fresh all-time high after topping the previous day's record close of 4,723.10. The KOSPI has risen for 10 or more straight trading sessions for the first time in about four months, since Sept. 2 to 16 last year, when it gained for 11 sessions.

Institutions and foreign investors led the rise in the index. Institutions net bought 1.2978 trillion won worth of shares on the KOSPI, and foreigners also net bought 342.4 billion won, absorbing net selling by individuals. Individuals net sold more than 1.8 trillion won on the KOSPI.

Samsung Electronics ended up 2.57 percent at 143,900 won, while SK Hynix rose 0.94 percent to 749,000 won.

Other top market-cap stocks, including LG Energy Solution, up 0.64 percent, Samsung Biologics, up 1.97 percent, Hyundai Motor, up 2.55 percent, Hanwha Aerospace, up 1.97 percent, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, up 2.60 percent, and Kia, up 6.64 percent, also ended mostly higher, extending the positive mood in the stock market.

The Kosdaq closed up 8.98 points, or 0.95 percent, at 951.16. On the Kosdaq, individuals and institutions net sold 252.5 billion won and 200 million won, respectively, while foreigners were the sole net buyers with 269.5 billion won.