Hanwha Carries Out Spin-Off to Separate Affiliates; US Treasury Secretary Verbally Intervenes on Weak Won, Saying It Does Not Match Korean Economic Fundamentals | 3PRO TV Team Lead Kwon Soon-woo

한화, 계열분리 분할 단행…미국 재무 장관, 원화 약세에 구두개입…"한국 경제 펀더멘털에 안맞아" | 삼프로TV 권순우 취재팀장 [뉴스3]
Watch on YouTube ↗  |  January 14, 2026 at 23:08  |  28:49  |  3PRO TV (삼프로TV)
Speakers
Kwon Soon-woo — Reporting Team Lead, 3PRO TV
Lee Joo-ho — Reporter

Summary

The video covers the KOSPI's record run, Hanwha Group's spin-off and shareholder-return plan, and US Treasury Secretary Bessent's verbal intervention on the weak won. It also reviews December Korean employment data, a proposed inheritance-tax valuation bill, and US market moves in banks and energy. The guest, Kwon Soon-woo, highlights Hanwha's valuation discount and won stabilization setup as key investment implications.

  • KOSPI extended gains above 4,700, with hosts discussing the possibility of 5,000.
  • Hanwha Group announced a spin-off of non-core retail/leisure businesses and shareholder-return measures, lifting Hanwha Corporation and Hanwha Galleria.
  • US Treasury Secretary Bessent said won weakness does not match Korea's fundamentals, triggering an immediate USD/KRW decline.
  • Korean December employment showed strong headline numbers but weak quality, with youth employment falling and growth concentrated in care and delivery jobs.
  • A proposed bill would set a PBR floor of 0.8x for inheritance tax valuation, potentially reducing incentives to keep low-PBR stocks depressed.
  • US markets were mixed, with bank earnings and Iran-related oil headlines weighing on sentiment.
  • Korean cosmetics exports remain strong, but share prices lag as market liquidity concentrates in semiconductors.
Ideas
Kwon Soon-woo Reporting Team Lead, 3PRO TV 1:14
Cosmetics exports strong but stocks lag semiconductors.
Korean cosmetics exports are very strong, but cosmetics stocks are not rising because market liquidity is concentrated in semiconductors. This creates a potential lagging value setup if semiconductor concentration fades or cosmetics earnings momentum continues.
Kwon Soon-woo Reporting Team Lead, 3PRO TV 4:31
US verbal intervention may cap USD/KRW upside.
US Treasury Secretary Bessent verbally intervened against excessive won weakness after meeting Korea's deputy PM, saying the won's level does not match Korea's strong economic fundamentals. USD/KRW immediately fell on the comment. Although the structural driver of won weakness is Korean residents buying US assets and there is no direct policy tool to reverse it, this creates a policy-driven cap on further USD/KRW upside and a setup for won stabilization.
Kwon Soon-woo Reporting Team Lead, 3PRO TV 9:54
Hanwha spin-off should narrow holding-company discount.
Hanwha Group is spinning off its non-core retail and leisure businesses, including Hanwha Galleria and Hanwha Resort, to reduce the conglomerate discount. Hanwha Corporation trades at a 63% discount to NAV and below 0.4x PBR, and the group is simultaneously announcing shareholder-return measures: full cancellation of treasury shares, a minimum dividend, and buyback/cancellation of all preferred shares. This should narrow the holding-company discount and has already lifted Hanwha Corporation and Hanwha Galleria shares.
Kwon Soon-woo Reporting Team Lead, 3PRO TV 15:54
Inheritance tax bill could support low-PBR Koreans.
A proposed bill would set a minimum PBR floor of 0.8x for inheritance tax valuation. Currently, heirs can benefit from depressed stock prices, creating a perverse incentive for undervaluation. If passed, that incentive disappears and could support low-PBR Korean stocks, especially holding companies. The speaker says the bill should pass and investors should pay attention.
Up Next

This 3PRO TV (삼프로TV) video, published January 14, 2026, features Kwon Soon-woo discussing KORU, USD/KRW, 000880.KS, 027390.KS, 00088K.KS, Korean Value Stocks. 4 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Kwon Soon-woo  · Tickers: KORU, USD/KRW, 000880.KS, 027390.KS, 00088K.KS, Korean Value Stocks