Korean Stock Market News Summary
📌 Debate Grows Over Samsung Electronics & SK Hynix Leveraged ETFs
A policy forum titled “Is Our Stock Market Okay? The Roller Coaster Samsung/Hynix Leveraged ETFs” was held by a lawmaker amid growing calls for accountability over leveraged ETF products. Professor Jo Dong-geun of Myongji University argued that leveraged products have amplified price volatility in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix shares, suggesting a review of current leverage multipliers. Critics have gone as far as saying these products “should never have been created.”
📌 JP Morgan: Korean Market Volatility “Just a Deleveraging Process”
JP Morgan maintained its “Overweight” investment recommendation on Korean equities and held its 12-month KOSPI target steady at 12,500 points, stating that recent market volatility is simply part of a deleveraging process rather than a structural concern. On the 21st, the KOSPI rose, led by semiconductor stocks:
- Samsung Electronics surged +6.15% to 259,000 KRW
- SK Hynix also posted notable gains
📌 ASML Offers Employees ~$25,000 in Stock Compensation Amid AI Chip Talent War
The world’s largest semiconductor lithography equipment maker, ASML, announced stock compensation of approximately €20,000 (~34 million KRW) per employee. Reuters reported that major chipmakers including Samsung Electronics, TSMC, and SK Hynix are similarly ramping up employee compensation packages, driven by strong earnings performance and an intensifying shortage of skilled semiconductor talent.
📌 Samsung Securities Launches “Welcome Event” for New Customers
Samsung Securities is running a new customer promotion targeting first-time investors. The first 20,000 participants will randomly receive either:
- 1 share of a blue-chip stock — Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, or Doosan Enerbility, or
- 20,000 KRW (~$15) in trading credit usable for domestic stock transactions
The event is designed to attract first-time retail investors to the platform.
Sources: Korean financial news outlets | Date: January 21