KOSPI 8000 Celebration Shot Immediately Followed by Stock Plunge... Black Friday Shock / Unprecedented Volatility That Makes Your Head Go Blank 'How to Respond' | CEO Kim Dong-yeop

Summary

The KOSPI index hit an all-time high of 8,049 on May 15, 2026, then plunged over 6% in a Black Friday-style crash due to overlapping macro and domestic risks: US-Iran tensions, mixed US-China summit signals, Japan rate hike fears, and Samsung strike concerns. CEO Kim Dong-yeop analyzes resilient sectors including memory semiconductors (Samsung, SK hynix), semiconductor equipment/materials (Jeju Semiconductor, Hana Micron), physical AI/robotics tied to NVIDIA, and holding companies with strong subsidiaries. He expects further short-term correction to the 7,200-7,400 range before consolidation, with NVIDIA earnings on May 21 as a pivotal event.

• KOSPI reached 8,049 intraday then crashed over 6% on multiple overlapping shocks.
• Memory semiconductor supercycle intact; Samsung and SK hynix targets remain high.
• Semiconductor equipment/materials stocks show explosive earnings (Jeju Semiconductor, Hana Micron).
• Physical AI/robotics stocks (LG Electronics, Doosan Robotics, Hyundai Motor) supported by NVIDIA partnership expectations.
• Holding companies with strong subsidiaries (SK Square, Samsung C&T, Samsung Fire, Samsung Life, LG Corp) are being revalued.
• Short-term KOSPI likely to test 7,200-7,400 before finding a base.
• NVIDIA May 21 earnings are the next major catalyst for global tech sentiment.
• Market is driven by a handful of large-cap stocks, making it fragile to rotation.