Ideas
Hold Korean stocks; don't predict top.
The Korean stock market is in an unprecedented liquidity-driven bull market, with abundant global and domestic cash, real-estate restrictions pushing money into equities, and strong semiconductor earnings. Investors should not predict the top; they should stay invested until the trend clearly reverses.
DRAM upcycle early; buy Micron, SanDisk.
DRAM prices have surged and memory names such as Micron and SanDisk are outperforming. The DRAM big cycle normally lasts two to four years and began less than a year ago, so the upcycle likely has further room.
Hold Samsung, SK hynix on earnings.
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are the market's core leaders. Earnings are strong, with Samsung's Q4 operating profit at 20 trillion won and foreign brokers projecting 150 trillion won in 2026; institutions are buying despite foreign profit-taking. Samsung could rise further if its valuation approaches TSMC's, and investors should hold until earnings growth decelerates or the semiconductor trend breaks.
Buy SpaceX-related leading Korean stocks.
SpaceX-related and aerospace stocks are one of the market's center sectors. They rest and then rally strongly in rotation, so investors should focus on these leading stocks instead of laggards.
Buy leading AI and robot stocks.
AI and robot stocks are a center sector, especially Hyundai Motor Group's robot value chain and component suppliers tied to Rainbow Robotics. New names keep emerging and supply contracts can drive sharp moves, so focus on leading AI and robot stocks.
Watch selected biotech, not whole sector.
Biotech is listed among the center sectors, but the speaker stresses that biotech moves on individual company news rather than as a whole sector. Treat it as a stock-specific watch theme, not a broad sector bet.
Buy select shipbuilding, defense, nuclear.
Some shipbuilding, defense, and nuclear names are attractive, especially those tied to US policy and overseas orders and those that corrected and are rebounding from the bottom. Avoid already-spiked names; Doosan Enerbility, Hanwha Ocean, Hanwha Systems, and HJ Heavy Industries were cited as examples.
Avoid Korean battery stocks; only technical moves.
The recent secondary-battery rally is only a technical trade, not a sustainable rotation. Structural problems remain: major contracts were canceled, Korean market share is falling, and Chinese LFP batteries are widely adopted. Do not expect the old battery bull trend to return.
Use TQQQ and SOXL for US exposure.
For US stock exposure, he prefers ETFs because individual US stocks are volatile and taxes and fees are high. He likes TQQQ for broad Nasdaq exposure and the 3x semiconductor leveraged ETF SOXL for leveraged semiconductor exposure.
Buy global-revenue Korean companies.
In this larger, liquidity-rich era, only companies with global operations and overseas revenue can generate the massive earnings growth that drives stock prices; domestic-only businesses are less attractive. He cites Hanwha Aerospace, Doosan Enerbility, Hyundai Construction, and HYBE as examples.
Broad KOSDAQ unattractive; buy sector leaders.
KOSDAQ activation measures and commercial law amendments will not lift the entire KOSDAQ. Only KOSDAQ stocks in leading sectors with earnings can rise, so broad KOSDAQ exposure is less attractive than sector-specific picks.
Avoid Korean holding and securities stocks.
Holding companies and securities stocks already rallied on last year's index strength. Commercial law amendments and new policy measures are unlikely to drive another re-rating, so do not expect a new leg up from them.
Buy select beaten-down semiconductor equipment names.
Semiconductor equipment and materials are attractive because large-cap semiconductors have risen and KOSDAQ policy support may help, but there are more than 100 names and selection is difficult. Prefer fundamentally sound names that fell in the second half of last year and are stabilizing near their 60-day and 120-day moving averages, and follow institutional buying.
Watch on-device semiconductor leader Jeju.
On-device semiconductor chips are an important growing technology with widening use. Jeju Semiconductor is a representative stock that rose over 50% in a week, but the move is already sharp, so it is more a monitoring idea than a fresh buy.
Watch Techwing rebound from moving averages.
Techwing is an example of a quality semiconductor equipment name that fell sharply and returned to its 60-day and 120-day moving averages. He bought it around 40,000 won and made about 20%, though he is not telling viewers to buy it now.
Avoid Korean cosmetics stocks.
Cosmetics stocks lack consistent buying and trend continuity. They often rally for a month and then decline for months, so buying in the middle of a downtrend is dangerous.
Avoid Samyang until trend turns.
Samyang Foods already broke its long-term uptrend after peaking around 1.5 million won. Do not buy just because it has fallen; wait for a clear bottoming and trend reversal before considering it.
This 815 Money Talk (815머니톡) video, published January 17, 2026,
features Nam Seok-gwan
discussing EWY, MU, SNDK, 005930.KS, 000660.KS, SpaceX-related Korean stocks, Korean AI/robot value chain, XBI, 042660.KS, 272210.KS, 097230.KS, 034020.KS, Korean secondary battery stocks, TQQQ, SOXL, Korean global exporters, 079550.KS, 000720.KS, 352820.KS, KOSDAQ, Korean holding companies, Korean securities stocks, Korean semiconductor equipment/materials (Sobujang), 080220.KQ, 089030.KQ, KORU, 357780.KQ.
17 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.
Speakers:
Nam Seok-gwan
· Tickers:
EWY,
MU,
SNDK,
005930.KS,
000660.KS,
SpaceX-related Korean stocks,
Korean AI/robot value chain,
XBI,
042660.KS,
272210.KS,
097230.KS,
034020.KS,
Korean secondary battery stocks,
TQQQ,
SOXL,
Korean global exporters,
079550.KS,
000720.KS,
352820.KS,
KOSDAQ,
Korean holding companies,
Korean securities stocks,
Korean semiconductor equipment/materials (Sobujang),
080220.KQ,
089030.KQ,
KORU,
357780.KQ
