Journalist

Choi Yoon-sun
  • Samsung SDI Shares Hit Intraday Record on Profit-Turnaround Hopes
    Samsung SDI Shares Hit Intraday Record on Profit-Turnaround Hopes Samsung SDI shares rose on Tuesday as expectations grew for a recovery in the second half of the year and a return to profit. As of 10:27 a.m., the stock was up 17,000 won, or 2.65%, from the previous session at 698,000 won, according to the Korea Exchange. It climbed as high as 706,000 won early in the session, setting a new intraday record. KB Securities cited improving results in maintaining its “buy” rating and raising its target price 60.4% to 850,000 won from 530,000 won. Kiwoom Securities also kept a “buy” rating and lifted its target price 70.8% to 820,000 won from 480,000 won. Shinhan Securities maintained “buy” and raised its target price 37.9% to 800,000 won from 580,000 won. Analysts also pointed to expanded shipments of mid- to large-size batteries as Samsung SDI supplies P6 high-nickel batteries for Hyundai Motor and Kia models including the Ioniq 3 and EV2, a factor expected to support a return to profit in the second half. Lee Hyun-wook, an analyst at IBK Investment & Securities, said North American energy storage system volumes appear to be fully booked through 2028, and that steady shipments combined with a recovery in the electric-vehicle market should drive a clearer earnings improvement. He said Samsung SDI could return to profit in the fourth quarter, its first in nine quarters.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 10:41:12
  • Korea Investment & Securities: Hantech Leads Heat Exchanger Makers in North America Sales Share
    Korea Investment & Securities: Hantech Leads Heat Exchanger Makers in North America Sales Share Korea Investment & Securities said Tuesday that Hantech has the highest share of North American sales among South Korean heat exchanger makers. It did not provide a target price or investment rating. Kim Geon-woo, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities, said Hantech is a maker of chemical-process equipment, with heat exchangers as its main product, and noted that liquefied natural gas, or LNG, infrastructure expansion is accelerating in the United States and Canada. He said the company is expected to benefit from a growing number of LNG terminals, which require liquefaction facilities, adding that North America accounts for 48% of Hantech’s revenue — the highest contribution among peers. Kim also forecast gains from increased investment by semiconductor companies. He said Hantech supplies ultra-low-temperature gas storage tanks installed at domestic semiconductor fabrication plants, and that major fab investment by customers this year is expected to drive orders. He cited expected large-scale investment including SK hynix’s Yongin semiconductor cluster Y1 and Samsung Electronics’ Pyeongtaek P5, and said construction of Pyeongtaek P4 Phase 2 will resume. He projected both revenue and orders will grow as downstream companies expand investment. Kim said new orders have topped 70 billion won, including a 28 billion won supply contract signed in January with Shintech Louisiana and an order for a U.S. ammonia project. He noted the figure does not yet include additional orders tied to U.S. LNG projects and South Korea’s semiconductor sector.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 08:49:15
  • Hotel, Duty-Free and Casino Shares Rise on Expectations for Early May Holiday Travel
    Hotel, Duty-Free and Casino Shares Rise on Expectations for Early May Holiday Travel With an early May holiday stretch approaching, shares tied to hotels, casinos and duty-free shopping have been climbing on expectations of a travel boost. The gains come as foreign visitor numbers to South Korea have been rising, adding to optimism for a holiday-driven pickup in tourism and spending. According to the Korea Exchange on the 28th, major tourism and consumer-related stocks including Hotel Shilla, Hyundai Department Store and Lotte Tour Development posted steady gains over the week from the 20th to the 27th, holding up relatively well despite broader market volatility. Hotel Shilla extended its rally to seven straight sessions and closed up 5.31% at 69,400 won, compared with the previous trading day. The move is widely seen as reflecting expectations that more foreign tourists will arrive during the holiday period. Investors have been encouraged by a recovery in short-haul travel demand, particularly from China and Japan, fueling forecasts that more visitors will come to South Korea over the break. Industry watchers also view the broader inbound trend as improving. As tourism demand that had been gradually recovering after COVID-19 becomes more evident this year, analysts say expectations are growing for better results across duty-free, hotel and casino businesses. Some individual names have also drawn attention. GS P&L, which operates its own hotel chain including the Parnas Hotel in Seoul’s Samseong-dong, has seen its share price rise steadily since the 22nd, a move attributed to expectations for stronger hotel demand being priced in. Securities firms have offered upbeat assessments of the current inbound cycle. Lee Jin-hyeop, an analyst at Hanwha Investment & Securities, said, “The current domestic inbound cycle is better than Japan’s cycle in 2023 to 2024,” citing signs of a recovery in China’s economy this year and a stronger yuan reflecting that trend. Still, some in the market cautioned that the post-holiday trajectory will matter. With part of the holiday optimism already reflected in prices, the key variable for share performance will be whether actual tourist arrivals and spending meet expectations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 16:19:39
  • Daewoo E&C hits 52-week high as surprise Q1 profit jump lifts shares 17%
    Daewoo E&C hits 52-week high as surprise Q1 profit jump lifts shares 17% Daewoo Engineering & Construction shares surged after the company reported a surprise earnings beat. According to the Korea Exchange, Daewoo E&C was trading at 39,000 won as of 1:25 p.m. on the 28th, up 17.47% (5,800 won) from the previous session. The stock earlier climbed to 39,850 won, setting a new 52-week high. Daewoo E&C said its first-quarter operating profit rose 68.9% from a year earlier to 255.6 billion won. Revenue fell 6% to 1.9514 trillion won, while net profit jumped 237.6% to 195.8 billion won. The operating profit topped market expectations, marking the first time in 14 quarters the company posted operating profit in the 200 billion-won range. The company said profitability in its building construction business improved as projects launched during a period of rising construction costs were completed in sequence. Daewoo E&C said it plans to expand orders centered on energy infrastructure such as nuclear power plants and liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as overseas urban development, data centers and urban renewal projects. Lee Eun-sang, an analyst at NH Investment & Securities, said Daewoo E&C is the most likely to participate as a construction partner in Team Korea. He added that with additional construction cooperation in the United States and Vietnam in mind, cost negotiations in the Czech Republic will be important, and Daewoo E&C has leverage because few domestic builders have lead-underwriter construction experience.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 13:36:16
  • Kolon Industries shares jump 15% on hopes of demand shift after SABIC outage
    Kolon Industries shares jump 15% on hopes of demand shift after SABIC outage Kolon Industries surged after reports that a competitor’s production facilities for modified polyphenylene oxide, or mPPO, had halted operations.  According to the Korea Exchange, Kolon Industries was trading at 103,500 won as of 10:23 a.m. on the 28th, up 13,500 won, or 15.00%, from the previous session. The stock rose as high as 104,900 won early in the session, setting a new one-year high. Foreign media reported the previous day that a polyphenylene ether (PPE) resin plant operated by Saudi petrochemical giant SABIC has been shut since early April following Iranian airstrikes. PPE resin is the key feedstock for modified PPE, or mPPO. SABIC is a major supplier, accounting for about 70% of global PPO resin production. With supply disrupted, prices for related materials have also jumped. PCB prices in April were reported to have risen by as much as 40% from the previous month. The outage has raised expectations that substitute demand could shift to Kolon Industries’ mPPO, a competing product. Cho Hyun-ryeol, an analyst at Samsung Securities, said the situation could push Kolon Industries’ new plant utilization higher than expected. He said SABIC’s share had been dominant in the mPPO market for artificial intelligence copper-clad laminate, or CCL, resins, and that multiple CCL makers may seek additional capacity as part of efforts to diversify supply chains. Kolon Industries’ mPPO capacity was equivalent to 80 billion won in annual sales as of last year, and is expected to rise to 160 billion won once its new Gimcheon Plant No. 2 is completed. The company expects mechanical completion of the Gimcheon facility by the end of the second quarter this year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 10:34:49
  • Hana Securities Raises Tes Target to 117,000 Won on Expected DRAM, NAND Gains
    Hana Securities Raises Tes Target to 117,000 Won on Expected DRAM, NAND Gains Hana Securities on Tuesday raised its target price for Tes to 117,000 won from 67,000 won, saying the semiconductor equipment maker is positioned to benefit from both DRAM and NAND investment. It maintained its “buy” rating. Analyst Kim Rok-ho said Tes’ first-quarter revenue is forecast to rise 16% from a year earlier to 97.7 billion won, with operating profit up 11% to 18.0 billion won. He said Tes continues to benefit from new DRAM investment and NAND conversion investment tied to Samsung Electronics’ Pyeongtaek P4 (fourth plant) in Gyeonggi province and SK hynix’s M15X plant in Cheongju, North Chungcheong province. Kim said solid memory demand is prompting customers to move faster than expected on capital spending, increasing the likelihood that the scale of DRAM conversion investment will exceed earlier estimates. He said Tes could post quarter-on-quarter growth each quarter, supported by expanded customer investment and what he described as company-specific growth drivers. Kim said new DRAM-driven equipment, known as BSD, is receiving positive feedback for use in HBM, or high-bandwidth memory, and could begin contributing to revenue as early as the second half. He added that ACL, Tes’ main equipment line, is also increasingly likely to be reflected in second-half results. With shipments of those tools expected to lift average selling prices, Kim said Tes may see not only top-line growth but also improved profitability. Kim said expectations for expanded investment by memory makers and for new fabs from next year have pushed the average price-to-earnings ratio for global front-end equipment makers to 35.5 times. He said Korean companies could also benefit and potentially track the higher valuation multiples of global peers.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 09:01:09
  • Korean Retail Investors Sell Overseas Stocks as RIA Accounts Draw Money Back Home
    Korean Retail Investors Sell Overseas Stocks as RIA Accounts Draw Money Back Home Korean retail investors have been selling across major overseas stock markets at the same time, and attention is turning to whether that money will flow back into domestic shares. Data from the Korea Securities Depository’s Seibro portal show that from April 1 to 24, Korean individual investors were net sellers of U.S. stocks worth $1.28555 billion (about 1.8915 trillion won). Over the same period, they were net sellers of Japanese stocks worth $9.48 million (about 14 billion won), Hong Kong stocks worth $9.48 million, and Chinese stocks worth $18.26 million (about 27 billion won). With that trend in view, market participants are also watching the government’s new domestic market return account, known as an RIA. The program offers a capital gains tax break if proceeds from selling overseas stocks are invested in domestic stocks for a set period of at least one year, aiming to encourage overseas investment funds to return home. The RIA has grown quickly since its launch. The Korea Financial Investment Association said that as of April 23, cumulative RIA sign-ups totaled 168,347 accounts, with balances of 1.1051 trillion won. That compares with 17,965 accounts on the first day, meaning the number of accounts rose more than ninefold and balances surpassed 1 trillion won within about a month. Market experts have said the tax incentive could reduce the burden on gains from overseas investing and lift investors’ effective returns. Some also see the capital gains tax reduction as a buffer that can encourage reinvestment after short-term profit-taking. Analysts also say the RIA could help stabilize supply and demand and expand liquidity by drawing retail money into the local market, while serving as a policy signal that could bolster confidence and strengthen the base for mid- to long-term investing. Still, they caution that while the RIA may bring short-term inflows, longer-term results will depend on the competitiveness of Korea’s stock market. Without improved corporate earnings and a recovery in market trust, they say tax benefits alone may not sustain the shift. As the RIA spreads rapidly, some in the brokerage industry say investor interest is rising, but concerns are also being raised about the potential for distorted investment strategies.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 16:58:21
  • Korea Exchange to Hold Regional Briefings on Corporate Governance Report Disclosures
    Korea Exchange to Hold Regional Briefings on Corporate Governance Report Disclosures The Korea Exchange said it will hold a relay series of regional briefings this month in four cities — Busan, Daegu, Gwangju and Daejeon — for disclosure officers and others at KOSPI-listed companies on how to file corporate governance reports. The exchange said on the 27th the program was planned to help regional listed firms make smooth disclosures after the corporate governance report filing requirement was expanded this year to all KOSPI-listed companies. The sessions will explain the core purpose of the governance disclosure system and focus on how to prepare the reports, including examples of strong disclosures. A briefing for KOSPI-listed companies in Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province was held at the Busan International Finance Center on the 27th. Additional sessions are scheduled in Daegu (28), Gwangju (29) and Daejeon (30). The exchange said it expects the briefings to raise understanding and interest in corporate governance among regional listed companies and to support the stable settlement of the governance disclosure system. It also said it plans to actively support companies’ governance improvements and smooth filings through one-on-one consulting and distribution of guidance materials for newly covered governance disclosure companies next year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 15:42:15
  • Korea Exchange Joins Voluntary Carbon Market Alliance, Plans KRX Carbon Credit Market
    Korea Exchange Joins Voluntary Carbon Market Alliance, Plans KRX Carbon Credit Market The Korea Exchange said April 27 it participated in the launch ceremony for the “Korea-style voluntary carbon market alliance,” hosted by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The exchange said the event brought together the ministry, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other related organizations, along with large companies, mid-sized firms, startups and financial institutions, to discuss how to build a voluntary carbon market. At the ceremony, the exchange announced plans to open the “KRX Carbon Credit Market.” It said it will set up a listing review system to ensure confidence in the quality of carbon credits listed and will work with the government and domestic carbon credit registries to build a stable and efficient platform. It also said it plans to pursue cross-border linked trading by cooperating with global carbon credit exchanges, registries and investors, and to attract overseas liquidity to the KRX Carbon Credit Market. In congratulatory remarks, Korea Exchange Chairman Jeong Eun-bo said the voluntary carbon market is becoming “a necessity, not an option,” as part of corporate social responsibility. He said the exchange will develop the KRX Carbon Credit Market into a global hub, citing its experience operating a carbon emissions trading market for 11 years.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 15:07:17
  • Hanmi Semiconductor shares jump after Chairman Kwak buys company stock
    Hanmi Semiconductor shares jump after Chairman Kwak buys company stock Hanmi Semiconductor shares surged after news that its largest shareholder bought more company stock. According to the Korea Exchange, as of 2:45 p.m. on the 27th, Hanmi Semiconductor was trading at 374,500 won, up 26.73% from the previous session. The stock hit an intraday high of 379,500 won, a record. In a regulatory filing, the company said Chairman Kwak Dong-shin acquired 9,576 shares through open-market purchases. The purchase totaled about 3 billion won, at an average price of 315,407 won per share. After the transaction, Kwak’s stake rose to 33.57%. Hanmi Semiconductor said the purchase was intended to boost corporate value. Kwak previously bought additional shares in January and in November last year. Since 2023, his cumulative purchases have been reported at about 56.5 billion won. Hanmi Semiconductor said it maintains the No. 1 global market share in TC bonders used to produce HBM. With mass production of HBM4 ramping up this year, it is supplying “TC Bonder 4” to global manufacturers. It plans to launch a next-generation “Wide TC Bonder” by year-end to support future HBM production. The company also plans to release a second-generation hybrid bonder prototype within the year for the hybrid bonding market, which is expected to be applied to full-scale mass production starting in 2029. It plans to begin operating a hybrid bonder factory in the first half of next year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 14:51:45