Ideas
Korea stays buy on liquidity, AI.
The Korean market is showing independent relative strength versus the US because the AI cycle is lifting Korean earnings, liquidity is abundant through customer deposits and ETF inflows, and government policy is reallocating capital toward productive/financial assets. He remains a buyer overall but stresses position sizing and not chasing every hot sector; if the US avoids a crash, Korea can keep improving.
Overweight KOSPI versus KOSDAQ on earnings.
He prefers KOSPI over KOSDAQ because National Pension/National Growth Fund money is unlikely to flow into KOSDAQ as much as hoped, KOSDAQ aggregate operating profit is only about 10tn won per year versus the large KOSPI exporters, and KOSDAQ FOMO ETF inflows are lower-quality. KOSPI should be more attractive on pullbacks or foreign inflows, but he is not saying to sell KOSDAQ outright.
Buy Samsung/SK hynix on AI memory.
Korean memory chip leaders are a core way to play the AI trend: DRAM prices are exploding, 2026 operating profit estimates for Samsung and SK hynix have been revised up dramatically from below 200tn won to as much as 500tn won, Samsung's market cap surpassed 1,000tn won, and institutions must keep/buy them due index concentration. If semiconductors correct, their earnings base makes them more attractive than batteries.
Korean shipbuilders rebound on foreign demand.
Korean shipbuilders had lagged but rebounded, and he argues Korean shipbuilding companies are executing well, giving foreign investors a reason to buy. He uses the move as an example of liquidity rotating into previously neglected sectors.
Solar benefits from satellites, China policy.
Korean solar stocks rallied on a new narrative: Musk's plan to launch around 1 million satellites to build orbital data centers would require solar power, and China's removal of export tax rebates should benefit Korean solar manufacturers. Solar is also the fastest energy source to install, tying it to the aerospace/space theme.
Battery bounce from liquidity, short squeeze.
He sees Korean battery shares biased upward even though fundamentals are mixed. The main driver is not industry strength but the Korean market's abundant liquidity and rotation from semiconductor winners into long-lagging sectors; rising prices could trigger short covering. Supporting factors include renewed European EV subsidies, rising global battery installations, ESS/data-center demand and lithium price recovery, but Korean makers are still losing global share to CATL/BYD and lag in LFP.
Banks and brokers have more upside.
Korean banks and securities firms are showing strong performance, and he argues they still have room to rise if investors are uncomfortable with crowded semiconductors. KB Financial and Shinhan Financial are named as attractive financial holdings, and the liquidity-driven asset-market reallocation supports them.
Buy ESS growth; LGES North America.
The US energy-storage market is set for structural growth as renewables and data centers need batteries, permitting times are shortening, and the EU is raising renewable targets. Korean battery makers benefit, and LG Energy Solution is specifically expected to generate more North American ESS revenue than EV revenue by 2026.
Lithium carbonate trend has reversed up.
Lithium carbonate prices have turned up after a long decline and recent consolidation, with China taking steps to control production. He sees the trend as reversed and a positive momentum driver for battery materials.
This 3PRO TV (삼프로TV) video, published February 04, 2026,
features Lee Jae-kyu
discussing EWY, KOSDAQ, 005930.KS, 000660.KS, Korean shipbuilding sector, Korean solar sector, Korean secondary battery sector, 105560.KS, 055550.KS, Korean securities sector, ESS, 373220.KS, Lithium carbonate.
9 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.
Speakers:
Lee Jae-kyu
· Tickers:
EWY,
KOSDAQ,
005930.KS,
000660.KS,
Korean shipbuilding sector,
Korean solar sector,
Korean secondary battery sector,
105560.KS,
055550.KS,
Korean securities sector,
ESS,
373220.KS,
Lithium carbonate
