KOSPI Black Wednesday: Is Foreigners' 3 Trillion Won Sell-Off a Bear Market Signal? 'How to Respond Now' | Director Park Hyun-sang

[#UrgentMarket] KOSPI Black Wednesday… Is foreigners' 3 trillion won sell-off a signal of a bear market start? "Now respond like this" | Director Park Hyun-sang
Watch on YouTube ↗  |  August 19, 2026 at 07:00  |  22:09  |  815 Money Talk (815머니톡)
Speakers
Park Hyun-sang — Deputy Head

Summary

Director Park Hyun-sang argues that the sharp KOSPI sell-off is a correction rather than the start of a bear market, supported by MSCI Korea's historically low forward P/E and still-rising EPS. He attributes the drop in Samsung Electronics and SK hynix mainly to U.S. Treasury yield noise and foreign profit-taking. He advises a swing-trading, cash-heavy response, expects KOSDAQ and individual stocks to lead once the index stabilizes, and highlights Korean AI data-center and semiconductor equipment/materials sectors.

  • KOSPI drop viewed as correction, not bear market; MSCI Korea forward P/E near a 20-year low below the global financial crisis low.
  • Foreign selling of over 3 trillion won is characterized as profit-taking after last week's rally, driven by U.S. rate and Middle East noise.
  • Samsung Electronics and SK hynix weakness is called a memory correction from rate noise, with limited additional downside expected.
  • Korean market is described as a swing-trading and range market; investors should take profits on rallies and buy sharp dips.
  • KOSDAQ and individual stocks are expected to outperform once the index stabilizes.
  • AI data-center investment and semiconductor equipment/materials sectors are highlighted as likely leadership areas.
  • USD/KRW is seen as volatile but likely to remain in a box; foreign inflows may resume when rate and Hormuz uncertainty ease.
  • Warns against over-concentrated Samsung Electronics and SK hynix positions and single-stock leverage.
Ideas
Park Hyun-sang Deputy Head 0:22
KOSPI correction, not bear market
Park Hyun-sang views the sharp KOSPI drop as a correction, not the start of a bear market. He points to MSCI Korea's forward P/E of about 5.3x, near a 20-year low and below the global financial crisis low of 6.7x, while EPS estimates are still rising. He also sees today's foreign selling as profit-taking after last week's rally, driven by U.S. rate and Middle East noise.
Park Hyun-sang Deputy Head 2:26
Memory selloff is rate noise, downside limited
The sharp drop in Samsung Electronics and SK hynix is a memory-sector correction caused by U.S. Treasury yield noise rather than fundamental deterioration. SK hynix ADR, Micron and SanDisk fell, but the big-tech capex and accounting concerns are not supported. He argues Korean stocks are cheap precisely because of memory and that further sharp downside is likely limited.
Park Hyun-sang Deputy Head 14:38
KOSDAQ should outpace KOSPI after adjustment
After a sharp one-day KOSPI drop, he expects the index to form a narrow box and the market to shift into individual stocks. If the correction ends, KOSDAQ is likely to recover faster than KOSPI, and active individual-stock trading will drive returns rather than large caps.
Park Hyun-sang Deputy Head 15:31
Favor Korean AI datacenter and chip equipment
He expects likely sector leadership to be tied to domestic Korean AI data-center investment. Semiconductor materials, components and equipment names are already strong, especially large-cap names, and AI data-center-related individual stocks should also move. He also notes alternative energy plays can create additional room if investors keep cash and buy dips.
Park Hyun-sang Deputy Head 19:27
USD/KRW stays boxed; watch foreign triggers
USD/KRW has fallen sharply below 1,400 intraday, helped partly by SK hynix ADR-related flows, but the move is too fast and volatile. He expects the exchange rate to remain in a box around 1,400-1,450 and says foreigners are likely to re-enter Korean equities when Trump/Hormuz uncertainty and U.S. 10-year Treasury yield pressure ease.
Up Next

This 815 Money Talk (815머니톡) video, published August 19, 2026, features Park Hyun-sang discussing EWY, 005930.KS, 000660.KS, KOSDAQ Index, Korean AI data center sector, Korean semiconductor equipment and materials sector, USD/KRW. 5 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Park Hyun-sang  · Tickers: EWY, 005930.KS, 000660.KS, KOSDAQ Index, Korean AI data center sector, Korean semiconductor equipment and materials sector, USD/KRW