Ideas
Korean markets look favorable; KOSDAQ targets 1000.
Lee Ji-eun said both KOSPI and KOSDAQ are progressing smoothly. KOSDAQ broke above 950 for the first time since August 2023, restoring the psychological expectation for 1000, while foreign investors bought about 1 trillion won of KOSPI, making supply-demand conditions favorable.
Shipbuilding, defense, nuclear sectors revive.
She said the previously leading Korean shipbuilding, defense, and nuclear sectors are reviving after a long rest. Power and nuclear strength plus sector rotation are driving the group, and she sees upside as more open now even if the move may not match the prior bottom-to-top performance.
Doosan Enerbility breaks out on nuclear catalysts.
She is positive on Doosan Enerbility. US nuclear stocks are turning up and SMR national strategic technology designation expectations have revived. The company had accumulated wind power and Big Tech gas turbine orders, but the stock had been range-bound under a caution designation. It broke its 80,000 won box with foreign buying and volume, supporting a split-buying approach.
HYBE gains from global artist comebacks.
She advised not to over-expect China's cultural ban lifting, and instead focus on HYBE because global artist comebacks such as BTS, Big Bang, EXO, and Blackpink can drive earnings more independently of China. She viewed the China ban delay noise as temporary.
Hold Samsung, SK hynix in memory upcycle.
She remains positive on Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. Memory earnings expectations are rising ahead of Samsung's earnings announcement, Micron's strong stock and HBM4 mass-production readiness support the cycle, supply-demand remains tight, and the delayed investment cycle should extend the upcycle. She sees any post-earnings selling as temporary and favors holding.
Hanmi Semiconductor benefits from HBM4 orders.
She highlighted Hanmi Semiconductor as a leader. Samsung may place HBM4-related equipment orders with the company, and it has also made space/aerospace equipment. The stock broke its previous high, and she views the semiconductor equipment momentum as intact.
Korean semiconductor equipment uptrend remains intact.
She said the uptrend in Korean semiconductor equipment and materials remains intact. Samsung Electronics value-chain and front-end process names are relatively stronger, while leadership within equipment/materials keeps rotating, so investors should watch the broader group for the next leg.
Space X theme becomes long-term aerospace trade.
She sees the Space X-related Korean space/aerospace theme as a long-term investment theme rather than a short 2-3 week trade. Space X's expected IPO around June-August is a catalyst, but private-sector entry, increased Korean R&D budget execution, 2026 as a takeoff year, and Blue Origin expansion plans create recurring catalysts.
Korean defense benefits from decade-long budget cycle.
She likes Korean defense as a long-term way to play the space theme. Global defense budget increases are expected to last about a decade, aging weapons need replacement, Europe and the US are stockpiling, and supply-chain concerns persist. Korean defense companies are competitive on delivery times and price, and technology-transfer wins in Poland, Europe, and the Middle East support further orders.
Hanwha Aerospace leads Korean space defense.
She called Hanwha Aerospace the fastest-moving space/defense name. It managed the Nuri 4 launch control tower, is pursuing national strategic space projects with Korea Aerospace Industries, and won a Polish order involving technology transfer, which she expects to lead to more European and Middle Eastern orders.
SeAH Besteel offers safer Space X exposure.
For investors wanting Space X value-chain exposure with earnings momentum and lower volatility, she named SeAH Besteel Holdings. It can benefit from group synergies with SeAH Special Steel and other affiliates, making it a relatively safer value-chain choice.
Hyundai Motor attractive on tariff, battery catalysts.
She highlighted Hyundai Motor ahead of CES. The Korea-US tariff issue has settled at 15 percent, hybrid vehicle momentum is building, and solid-state battery vehicle launch news adds a catalyst. She also cited dividends and FX upside. While it may lag Samsung and SK hynix, she views it as attractive at the current level.
Watch solid-state battery downside support.
Hyundai's solid-state battery vehicle news lifted related solid-state battery stocks. She said the trend has not fully turned, but today's move creates a point to watch how much downside support forms for the theme.
Wait to revisit robot small caps post-CES.
She said robot and autonomous driving stocks are weak on CES sell-on-news pressure. For small and mid-cap robot names, she recommends waiting until after the CES schedule and some volume digestion before looking again.
This 3PRO TV (삼프로TV) video, published January 05, 2026,
features Lee Ji-eun
discussing KRX:KOSPI, KRX:KOSDAQ, Korean shipbuilding sector, Korean nuclear power sector, 034020.KS, 352820.KS, 005930.KS, 000660.KS, 042700.KS, Korean semiconductor equipment/materials sector, Korean space/aerospace sector, Korean defense sector, 012450.KS, 001430.KS, 005380.KS, KOREAN SOLID-STATE BATTERY SECTOR, Korean robotics small-cap sector.
14 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.
Speakers:
Lee Ji-eun
· Tickers:
KRX:KOSPI,
KRX:KOSDAQ,
Korean shipbuilding sector,
Korean nuclear power sector,
034020.KS,
352820.KS,
005930.KS,
000660.KS,
042700.KS,
Korean semiconductor equipment/materials sector,
Korean space/aerospace sector,
Korean defense sector,
012450.KS,
001430.KS,
005380.KS,
KOREAN SOLID-STATE BATTERY SECTOR,
Korean robotics small-cap sector
