Journalist

Shin Dong-kun
  • STX Green Logistics Shares Slide 13% on Guarantee Dispute, Late Disclosure Warning
    STX Green Logistics Shares Slide 13% on Guarantee Dispute, Late Disclosure Warning STX Green Logistics shares fell more than 13% in early trading as investor sentiment weakened on a legal dispute tied to an STX affiliate guarantee and a Korea Exchange warning over a delayed disclosure. According to the Korea Exchange, STX Green Logistics was trading at 5,180 won as of 10:29 a.m. on the 22nd, down 810 won, or 13.52%, from the previous session. The stock extended losses from the opening. The biggest drag appeared to be legal risk surrounding the group structure, raising concerns that contingent liabilities across the broader STX group could materialize. The company disclosed that it provided 185.7 billion won in debt guarantees for borrowings by STX, a related party of its largest shareholder, from Nov. 29, 2023, to Nov. 30, 2024. It said STX Green Logistics was created through a spin-off from STX on Sept. 1, 2023, and that under the Commercial Act it shares joint and several repayment responsibility with STX, the surviving company, for debts incurred before the split. At the same time, STX Green Logistics filed a lawsuit at the Seoul Southern District Court against the Korea Development Bank seeking confirmation of nonexistence of debt. The suit asks the court to rule that no guarantee obligation exists in connection with an STX-related joint and several guarantee agreement signed on Nov. 28, 2024. Disclosure risk added to the pressure. The Korea Exchange notified STX Green Logistics of a preliminary designation as an unfaithful disclosure company, citing that it disclosed a Nov. 20, 2023, decision on providing a debt guarantee to another party only on April 20 this year, about two years late. Under KOSPI market disclosure rules, the exchange said the delay amounts to a failure to disclose. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:45:44
  • DS Investment & Securities Raises SGC Energy Target on Data Center, Power Outlook
    DS Investment & Securities Raises SGC Energy Target on Data Center, Power Outlook DS Investment & Securities on Tuesday maintained its “buy” rating on SGC Energy and raised its target price to 83,000 won, citing expectations for a normalization in power-generation earnings and expansion of its data center business. Ahn Ju-won, a researcher at DS Investment & Securities, said SGC Energy posted first-quarter revenue of 612.0 billion won and operating profit of 35.6 billion won, down 1.0% and up 102.7% from a year earlier, respectively. He said higher winter electricity demand lifted the system marginal price, or SMP, slightly boosting generation revenue, while the generation operating margin recovered to 6.7%, helping overall profitability return to normal levels. The generation margin was about 2.2% in the first quarter of last year. The construction segment delivered steady results as plant project progress improved, with an operating margin of 5.9%. The glass business, however, saw both revenue and profit slow due to weaker consumption of alcoholic beverages and drinks, he said. Looking ahead, Ahn said rising oil prices tied to tensions in the Middle East could push SMP higher and accelerate gains in the generation business. He noted the average SMP was 107 won in the first quarter but had risen to 119 won as of April. He added that while WTI has fallen from its peak, it remains in the $80 range, suggesting SMP could stay elevated. DS Investment & Securities forecast this year’s operating profit in the generation segment at 146.2 billion won, a sharp increase from a year earlier, with an operating margin of about 14.8%. The construction business is expected to sustain stable growth as orders expand, led by semiconductor and pharmaceutical-bio projects. Ahn also pointed to the data center business as a mid- to long-term growth driver. He said annual profit of about 100.0 billion won is expected from data center leasing income starting in 2028. The plan calls for a total capacity of 300 megawatts, and the operating timeline for the first 40 megawatts has been confirmed. He said demand is rising quickly as global companies expand AI investment in South Korea, and the second phase is expected to take shape between late this year and early next year. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 08:15:18
  • Mobis Shares Slide 12% After Being Named an Unfaithful Disclosure Company
    Mobis Shares Slide 12% After Being Named an Unfaithful Disclosure Company Shares of KOSDAQ-listed Mobis fell sharply in intraday trading after the company was designated an unfaithful disclosure company, a sanction tied directly to investor trust and seen as weighing on sentiment. As of 1:55 p.m. on the 21st, Mobis was trading at 4,955 won, down 685 won, or 12.15%, from the previous session. The Korea Exchange said the day before that it had designated Mobis as an unfaithful disclosure company for reversing a disclosure. The case involved the termination or cancellation of a stock transfer agreement that would have entailed a change in the company’s largest shareholder. Mobis first disclosed the matter on Dec. 2 last year, then filed a reversal disclosure on Jan. 26 this year, prompting controversy over the reliability of its disclosures. After a designation notice on Feb. 25, the exchange finalized the unfaithful disclosure designation on the 21st. The company received 5.0 penalty points and a 4 million won fine for the disclosure violation. The penalty points were initially set at 6.0, but 1.0 point was replaced with a monetary penalty. Mobis operates in computer programming and systems integration and management. Revenue at the end of last year totaled 5,097.70 million won, little changed from the end of 2024 at 5,026.43 million won. Operating losses widened to 2,935.21 million won at the end of last year, compared with 2,393.80 million won at the end of 2024 and 2,133.50 million won at the end of 2023. Net profit also remained in the red, with a net loss of 1,052.60 million won at the end of last year. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 14:12:44
  • South Korea to Allow Single-Stock Leveraged ETFs, With Listings Expected in May
    South Korea to Allow Single-Stock Leveraged ETFs, With Listings Expected in May South Korea will introduce high-risk exchange-traded funds that concentrate on a single stock, expanding investor choice by easing product-structure limits that were tighter than in overseas markets. Regulators said investor-protection measures will be strengthened at the same time. The Financial Services Commission said April 21 that the Cabinet approved an amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act allowing single-stock leveraged ETFs. The amendment will be promulgated and take effect April 28, and after related rules are updated, single-stock leveraged ETFs are expected to be listed in the domestic market as early as May 22. The change allows the launch of single-stock-based ETFs and exchange-traded notes, which had not been permitted. Under previous diversification requirements, the weight of any one stock was capped at 30%, but the limit will be expanded to 100%, enabling products that effectively invest in a single name. The cap on risk-assessed exposure tied to price moves will also be allowed up to 200% of total assets, making it possible to design leveraged and inverse products of up to about plus or minus two times. Single-stock ETFs based on major domestic shares with sufficient market capitalization, trading volume and derivatives-market stability — including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix — are expected to be introduced first. The revision also lays groundwork for a wider range of strategy products, including covered-call ETFs. Separately, through revisions to Korea Exchange rules, if an underlying stock is suspended from trading or delisted, the related ETF or ETN will also be suspended or delisted. The FSC said the overhaul is intended to narrow regulatory gaps with overseas-listed ETFs, curb capital outflows and strengthen the competitiveness of South Korea’s ETF market. Single-stock ETFs are already traded in markets including the United States and Hong Kong, and South Korean investors have been investing in such products abroad. Citing the higher risks, financial authorities said investor safeguards will be significantly reinforced. For single-stock leveraged and inverse products, investors will be required to complete an additional hour of advanced training on top of the existing one-hour pre-education requirement. The program will include a pre-assessment and tools such as quizzes and checklists to test understanding of leverage effects, negative compounding effects and tracking-difference risks. Authorities will also apply a 10 million won minimum deposit requirement to both domestically and overseas-listed products, and require product names to clearly state the structure, using terms such as “single-stock” and “leveraged/inverse” rather than simply “ETF.” An FSC official said, “Single-stock leveraged ETF products, unlike general products, have unique price structures and risk factors,” and urged investors to pay close attention to leverage and negative compounding effects and to invest responsibly within their ability to absorb losses. 2026-04-21 11:36:08
  • Foreign investors dumped nearly 20 trillion in South Korean stocks last month
    Foreign investors dumped nearly 20 trillion in South Korean stocks last month SEOUL, March 27 (AJP) - Foreign investors offloaded nearly 20 trillion Korean won (US$12.98 billion) worth of South Korean shares last month, extending their selling streak to a second consecutive month, according to data released by the Financial Supervisory Service on Friday. Foreign investors net sold 19.56 trillion won worth of shares - including 19.31 trillion won on the benchmark KOSPI and 239 billion won on the junior KOSDAQ - resulting in a net outflow of 12.13 trillion won in February. They instead shifted toward bonds, snapping up 7.43 trillion won worth for a fourth consecutive month. As of the end of February, foreign investors held 2,026 trillion won worth of listed stocks here, accounting for about 32.6 percent of the market. By country, the U.S. led with 838.19 trillion or 41.4 percent of total foreign holdings, followed by Europe at 31.8 percent, Asia at 13.8 percent and the Middle East at 1.8 percent. Foreign holdings of local bonds, meanwhile, continued to grow, rising 6.8 trillion won from the previous month to 337.3 trillion won, accounting for 12 percent of the total. 2026-03-27 09:01:51
  • Samsung Electronics becomes first South Korean company to hit $1 trillion market cap
    Samsung Electronics becomes first South Korean company to hit $1 trillion market cap SEOUL, February 26 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics has become the first South Korean company to reach a market capitalization of over US$1 trillion. As of Thursday's market close, Samsung Electronics' market value was tallied at $1.03 trillion. Only 13 companies worldwide have market caps of $1 trillion or more. The milestone lifted the electronics giant to No. 12 globally in terms of market value, surpassing supermarket chain Walmart and pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. In Asia, it ranks third behind TSMC (No. 6) and Saudi Aramco (No. 7). Shares of Samsung Electronics surged 7.13 percent or 14,500 won from the previous session to close at 218,000 won, pushing its global ranking up two spots to No. 12 in a single day. The rise appeared to be buoyed by earlier news that Nvidia reported a record fourth-quarter revenue of $68.13 billion. Meanwhile, domestic rival SK hynix's market cap stood at $532.2 billion, ranking No. 21 globally. 2026-02-26 16:40:02
  • Korean retail investors ramp up US stock buying despite local rally
    Korean retail investors ramp up US stock buying despite local rally SEOUL, January 27 (AJP) - South Korea’s stock market has rallied sharply this year, but retail investors are continuing to pour money into U.S. equities, a trend cited by policymakers as a key factor behind recent volatility in the won. Average daily settlement amounts for U.S. stocks by South Korean retail investors reached $261 million over 15 trading sessions from Jan. 2 to Jan. 23, according to data released on Tuesday by the Korea Securities Depository. That figure more than tripled from a daily average of $85 million in December and was roughly double the $185 million average recorded in January last year. Overseas equity investment, which briefly cooled late last year, appears to be accelerating again. Retail investors were net sellers of U.S. stocks on only two of the 15 trading days this month, compared with nine days of net selling out of 22 sessions in December, the data showed. Analysts said confidence in U.S. markets has remained resilient despite the domestic rally, while recent stabilization in the foreign-exchange market has supported investor sentiment. Some analysts said further buying of U.S. stocks could lie ahead, pointing to elevated foreign-currency deposits as evidence that investors have already secured dollar funds. According to the Bank of Korea, resident foreign-currency deposits at domestic foreign-exchange banks reached a record $119.43 billion at the end of last year. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-27 16:04:28
  • Foreign investors holdings of South Korean stocks hit highest level in nearly six years
    Foreign investors' holdings of South Korean stocks hit highest level in nearly six years SEOUL, January 25 (AJP) - Foreign investors' share of stocks on South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI climbed to its highest level in five years and nine months in January, according to figures released by the Korea Exchange on Sunday. The total market capitalization of KOSPI‑listed companies stood at 3,759.72 trillion Korean won (roughly US$2.55 trillion) as of early this month, with foreign holdings valued at 1,398.03 trillion won, accounting for about 37.18 percent, the highest since April 2020. The surge was driven by strong buying in sectors such as shipbuilding, defense, and nuclear energy, following heavy purchases of chip-related stocks in the second half of last year. Foreign investors' buying spree, which began in September last year, pushed their share of KOSPI stocks to 35 percent by late October and 37 percent on Jan. 7, before dipping slightly to 36.85 percent a few weeks later. The KOSPI's strong rally at the start of the new year drove overall market capitalization sharply higher, with the index surpassing the historic 5,000-point milestone for the first time since the country's stock market began trading nearly 70 years ago. Market analysts attribute the foreign buying to expectations of large shipbuilding orders, while the surge in defense and nuclear energy stocks has to do with heightened geopolitical tensions surrounding Greenland following U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated threats to secure the Danish territory. South Korean stocks with the highest net buying by foreign investors during the first 23 days of this year were Hanwha Ocean, with 942.6 billion won, followed by Doosan Enerbility at 829.3 billion won. They also snapped up shares of Naver worth 529.8 billion won, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries worth 519.7 billion won, Celltrion worth 513.9 billion won, and Hanwha Aerospace worth 385.1 billion won. 2026-01-25 16:58:05
  • Korean retail investors pile into Samsung Electronics, margin trading hits record high
    Korean retail investors pile into Samsung Electronics, margin trading hits record high SEOUL, January 11 (AJP) — South Korean retail investors are piling into Samsung Electronics, snapping up shares sold by foreign investors amid bullish expectations for a memory-chip upcycle driven by rapid adoption of artificial intelligence infrastructure, pushing leveraged trading to record levels. According to the Korea Exchange, individual investors net bought 2.915 trillion won ($2.0 billion) worth of Samsung Electronics shares last week, the largest weekly net purchase since the second week of September 2024. The buying spree coincided with profit-taking by foreign investors, who net sold 10.57 million common shares, equivalent to about 1.5 trillion won, at an average price of 138,000 won per share during the same period. Retail investors also rotated out of rival chipmaker SK hynix, net selling 167 billion won worth of its shares. The shift reflects growing preference for Samsung Electronics, whose earnings outlook has improved alongside broad-based strength in DRAM prices, while SK hynix remains more heavily exposed to high-bandwidth memory supplies for Nvidia. As retail demand surged, leveraged stock investment climbed to an all-time high. The outstanding margin loan balance for Samsung Electronics reached 1.977 trillion won as of Friday, the highest level on record, according to exchange data. The balance represents shares purchased with borrowed funds that have yet to be repaid, with increases signaling rising debt-funded investing. Samsung Electronics’ margin debt has increased for seven consecutive trading sessions, from Dec. 29 through Jan. 8. The surge in leveraged buying has been driven by expectations of stronger memory-chip demand tied to expanding AI investment, as well as renewed investor interest following the company’s fourth-quarter earnings announcement on Jan. 8. Samsung Electronics reported preliminary fourth-quarter operating profit of 20 trillion won, up 208.2 percent from a year earlier, marking its best-ever quarterly performance. On the day of the earnings release, individual investors net bought 985 billion won worth of the stock. Brokerages expect the uptrend in memory-chip prices to continue and see scope for earnings momentum to extend into this year, prompting a series of target price upgrades. According to financial data provider FnGuide, the average target price from at least three brokerages stood at 154,423 won as of Friday, up 17,654 won from the previous consensus. KB Securities raised its target price to 200,000 won. 2026-01-11 11:44:13
  • Foreign stock ownership in Korean stocks highest in nearly 6 years
    Foreign stock ownership in Korean stocks highest in nearly 6 years SEOUL, January 04 (AJP) -Foreign ownership of South Korean stocks climbed to its highest level in nearly six years by the end of December 2025, as global investors doubled down on an AI-driven memory-chip boom led by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, while bond inflows accelerated ahead of South Korea’s inclusion in a major global sovereign bond index. According to the Korea Center for International Finance (KCIF) on Sunday, foreign ownership accounted for 32.9 percent of Korea’s total stock-market capitalization at the end of December, the highest level since April 2020. The Financial Supervisory Service previously reported foreign ownership at 31.5 percent in April 2020 and 29.6 percent at the end of November last year. The official end-December figure has yet to be released. Foreign investors’ net buying in the electrical and electronics sector reached 4.5 trillion won in December, exceeding overall foreign net buying of 3.5 trillion won, the KCIF said. By stock, SK hynix attracted 2.2 trillion won in net foreign inflows, while Samsung Electronics drew 1.4 trillion won. Foreign ownership of SK hynix rose to 53.8 percent at the end of December, up from 53.2 percent a month earlier, while Samsung Electronics edged up to 52.3 percent from 52.2 percent. The KCIF attributed the surge in equity inflows primarily to tight memory-chip supply and rising prices, which are lifting earnings expectations for Korean chipmakers amid the global AI investment cycle. Nomura recently forecast that commodity memory prices could rise another 20 to 30 percent this year, raising its estimates for annual operating profit by 21.5 percent for Samsung Electronics and 9.7 percent for SK hynix. The center also pointed to valuation differentials as a key driver of foreign inflows. While foreign investors were net sellers of Taiwanese stocks by $1.6 billion in December, they were net buyers of South Korean equities. Taiwan’s 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratio stands at around 17, above its 10-year average of 14.7, while the Kospi trades near 10, broadly in line with its long-term average, the KCIF said. Expectations for policies aimed at boosting corporate value, including a third revision to the Commercial Act and potential changes to dividend taxation, also supported investor sentiment. Foreign money flowed strongly into bonds as well. In December, foreigners made net investments of 8.8 trillion won in Korean bonds, lifting total foreign bond holdings to 339.3 trillion won, up from 329.5 trillion won at the end of November. Korea’s long-anticipated inclusion in the FTSE World Government Bond Index is set to begin in April 2026 and conclude in November 2026, with the weighting added in eight equal monthly steps. The inclusion had originally been scheduled to start in November 2025, but FTSE Russell postponed the timeline to 2026. The WGBI, compiled by FTSE Russell, is regarded as a benchmark “developed-market” sovereign bond index, with stringent criteria covering outstanding issuance, credit ratings and market accessibility. The Korean government expects WGBI inclusion to help attract advanced-economy capital, stabilize fiscal management, reduce government borrowing costs, and enhance financial-market stability and external credibility. The National Pension Service, the country’s largest institutional investor, has previously estimated that WGBI membership could draw at least $56 billion into South Korea’s financial markets. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-04 12:53:47