Ideas
Liquidity drives Korean market higher.
Korean equities are being driven by an unusually large liquidity wave: institutional program and financial-investment money, retail ETF buying, and capital leaving banks and real estate are lifting both KOSPI and KOSDAQ. Real estate tax changes may push more money into stocks, and super-rich real estate capital has not yet moved, so the rally can extend.
KOSDAQ retail favorites lead short-covering rally.
Retail investors' traditional KOSDAQ favorites—semiconductor equipment and materials, bio, and secondary batteries—are leading the rally. These sectors have heavy short positioning, so short covering can make advances especially strong.
Securities firms benefit from higher trading volume.
Korean securities firms are attractive because trading hours are expanding and transaction value has surged in December and January, improving fourth-quarter and first-quarter earnings. Extended NXT and 24-hour trading should add fee income.
Banks attract dividend-seeking institutional flows.
Korean banks rose as foreign and institutional investors seek confirmed dividend yields ahead of February dividend resolutions. This is a yield and dividend trade, with the bank sector also supported by dividend expectations.
Gold-silver uptrend remains strong.
Gold has moved to a new high and silver is following with a lag. The commodity price trend remains strong, so precious metals can stay supported despite intraday volatility.
Copper is preferred AI/defense hedge.
Copper is breaking toward historic highs and is a preferred commodity hedge. It is used in data centers, AI semiconductors, and defense, and copper-related stocks can be a rational portfolio hedge even as policy supports equities.
Microsoft adds robotics to AI expansion.
Microsoft is moving beyond chips to expand its AI hardware ecosystem, including a new TSMC 3nm chip and rack-level server design. Its Richtech Robotics collaboration suggests it may attach a robotics narrative to its software and AI stack, making Microsoft a positive pre-earnings watch.
Richtech gains Microsoft AI robotics edge.
Richtech Robotics is collaborating with Microsoft's AI co-innovation group to embed agentic AI and Azure AI capabilities into its service robots. Software updates can quickly improve hardware, and the stock surged over 40%, showing market appetite for AI-robotics winners.
Nvidia's relative AI dominance is fading.
Nvidia remains a strong AI franchise, but its marginal influence is fading versus second-, third-, and fourth-tier AI chip and robotics names. The market is rewarding followers more generously, so portfolio diversification is warranted rather than treating NVDA as the only AI winner.
Memory upcycle remains strong.
Memory is in a strong upcycle: DRAM and NAND prices are rising, legacy memory prices remain profitable even if growth slows, and Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are catching up to spot prices. Micron is hitting highs, and its Singapore expansion does not add meaningful capacity until 2028, so the cycle remains intact.
EWY benefits from Korean tech strength.
EWY, the Korea-tracking ETF, is strong because legacy semiconductor and NAND prices are rising, supporting Korean large-cap tech. It remains a way to express the Korean market rally.
Google Cloud pricing power boosts earnings.
Google Cloud's price increase, especially in North America, signals strong confidence in AI output and monetization and lock-in. Gemini usage is rising, and the pricing change should be positive for future earnings.
Meta capex guidance is key catalyst.
Meta is the most committed big-tech capex investor, so its earnings call's capex scale and direction are key. If capex continues to rise, it supports AI infrastructure demand.
Tesla story shifts beyond EV sales.
Tesla earnings are likely weak, but the investor case is shifting away from EV sales toward SpaceX IPO timing and the February FSD subscription change. Watch whether management's business direction is convincing.
Buy ASML/Lam on earnings pullbacks.
ASML and Lam Research are buy-on-pullback semiconductor equipment names. Self-designed chips increasingly go to TSMC, keeping TSMC utilization and fab expansion high, which supports demand for advanced equipment. If earnings-driven pullbacks occur, they are among the first equipment names to buy.
Buy Korean auto-robot names gradually.
Hyundai Motor and Kia held up strongly despite tariff headlines, and robot and auto-linked Korean names can be slowly accumulated using the previous day's price weakness. Korean auto-linked robot stocks may continue to benefit from robot momentum.
NAND expansion benefits suppliers.
NAND and legacy memory-related suppliers still have upside. As Micron and others expand memory capacity, NAND-specialized companies and cleanroom providers benefit, with Micron, Hana Micron, TSE, and Hanyang Digitech cited as names to watch.
Celltrion is lagging relative value play.
Celltrion Pharm rose double digits due to KOSDAQ flows while Celltrion lagged. Attacking Celltrion at a relatively low position offers a good relative-value and timing setup within the Celltrion group.
AI memory shortage supports memory stocks.
Micron's Singapore memory investment responds to an unprecedented AI-driven memory shortage. NAND supply is also tight, and the memory shortage is expected to last until late next year, supporting memory prices and memory stocks.
SK hynix AI control tower adds value.
SK hynix's reported plan to create a US AI investment control tower of about KRW 10tn would consolidate SK Group AI, energy, software, data-center, and SMR-related holdings, improving decision speed and positioning the group as an AI ecosystem partner. SK hynix and SK Innovation are key beneficiaries.
LPDDR price hikes confirm memory demand.
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have sharply raised LPDDR prices to Apple, confirming strong memory pricing power and demand. This supports their earnings and the broader memory upcycle.
KOSDAQ semiconductor suppliers offer earnings upside.
KOSDAQ semiconductor equipment and materials is one of the few KOSDAQ sectors with real earnings expectations for the fourth quarter and the first quarter of 2026. Money may keep crowding into these names, and laggards still offer opportunity.
AI data centers drive optical fiber demand.
Meta's up-to-$6bn Corning optical-fiber supply deal through 2030 highlights AI data-center fiber demand. Fiber uses far less power and is faster than copper, so the optical-fiber and optical-communication supply chain benefits, including Corning, optical component makers, Korean cable makers, and optical module and transceiver names.
Hyundai downside limited; robot rebound.
Hyundai Motor's downside looks limited. Even after tariff-related profit loss, a 10x P/E floor implies around KRW 440k, and the stock already traded near KRW 460k. With robot momentum, auto and robot names can rebound.
LGES gains humanoid robot battery story.
LG Energy Solution is in talks with Tesla and multiple Chinese humanoid-robot makers for battery supply and joint development. Even Chinese robot firms considering Korean batteries is a positive story, and humanoid batteries open a new growth narrative despite small current volumes.
Samsung SDI leads solid-state robot batteries.
Samsung SDI leads Korean solid-state battery development and is jointly developing batteries for Hyundai's Boston Dynamics Atlas humanoid. Solid-state and small high-density battery leadership supports a premium valuation.
SK hynix momentum into earnings.
SK hynix looks attractive ahead of earnings. CT Securities raised its target to KRW 1.4m, US investment-corporation and ADR speculation is building, and the stock broke out strongly. Institutional buying suggests momentum.
Optical and RF names gain momentum.
The Meta-Corning optical-fiber contract validates optical communication. Corning hit a new high, and Korean optical names plus RF component makers such as RFHIC and RF Materials continue to attract momentum.
Optical and RF names gain momentum.
Power equipment names such as LS Electric, HD Hyundai Electric, Hyosung Heavy, and Daehan Electric are supported by strong order and earnings momentum, and LS Electric has an additional Vitzro-related catalyst.
Samsung Electronics momentum remains strong.
Samsung Electronics is strong after a technical rebound from the 10-day line, rising above KRW 1.62m. Memory pricing and market momentum support further upside.
Prefer US space business models.
In space and aerospace, long-term winners are likely US or Chinese business models rather than Korean hardware with low ratings. Korean picks include Intellian Technologies and Satrec Initiative, but he prefers US service and business-model names such as Planet Labs and AST SpaceMobile.
US-exposed Korean chip suppliers favored.
Prefer Korean semiconductor equipment and materials companies with US entities or factories, as they can win both domestic Samsung and SK hynix capex and overseas foundry investment. Hanmi Semiconductor, EO Technics, PSK, and Amkor are examples.
AprilBio gains analyst coverage momentum.
Biotech coverage by a specific Hankook Investment analyst is creating strong momentum. New coverage names can gap up, and AprilBio is his preferred name because Daishin and others are initiating coverage and target levels could trigger further upside.
DB HiTek insider buying signals confidence.
DB HiTek's major shareholder keeps buying to reach the 30% holding-company threshold, which the market reads as confidence in the outlook. He has held it for over a year and sees more upside.
Medical robots offer better robot valuations.
Korean robot stocks look expensive, but medical robots can command higher multiples. Curexo and LivsMed are the relative-value way to stay exposed to the robot theme.
Foreign flows support Korean uptrend.
Foreign investor interest in Korea has increased after they missed the rally. A weak dollar and Korea's policy support should keep foreign and emerging-market flows favorable, and the market remains an uptrend until central-bank tightening fears emerge.
Jeju Semiconductor benefits from LPDDR pricing.
Jeju Semiconductor should benefit from the LPDDR price hike to Apple and a memory super-cycle. Its third-quarter operating leverage was strong, fourth-quarter and first-quarter results should be good, and chart consolidation may lead to a prior-high breakout.
SK Telecom has Anthropic stake catalyst.
SK Telecom offers a stable Korean equity with an Anthropic stake worth KRW 2-3tn. Its core telecom business is improving as KT stumbles, and Anthropic funding and IPO news is a positive catalyst.
Bloom Energy event drives fuel-cell names.
Bloom Energy's February 5 earnings and conference call is a key catalyst for onsite power and nuclear/fuel-cell themes. Korean suppliers such as KOSES and supercapacitor maker Vinatech could see sentiment change with Bloom's results.
LGES robot battery news supports rebound.
LG Energy Solution is rising on reports of humanoid-robot battery talks with Tesla and Chinese robot firms. With the fourth quarter likely the bottom, even a 'not worse' narrative is enough to support the stock in this tape.
Hyundai tariff panic is TACO buy.
The Trump tariff threat on Hyundai is likely another TACO trade. The stock's panic drop was a buying opportunity, and Hyundai rebounded above KRW 500k, confirming the market expects a negotiated outcome.
LGES leads humanoid high-output batteries.
LG Energy Solution is benefiting from the humanoid-robot battery narrative. Robots require high-output, high-density NCA and NCM batteries rather than LFP, an area where Korea is stronger than China, and China's large robot market could be a huge opportunity.
Samsung SDI leads humanoid solid-state batteries.
Samsung SDI is well positioned in humanoid batteries because it started with small high-density phone and laptop batteries and is working with Hyundai's Atlas. It is also a solid-state battery leader, supporting a premium.
Hanmi Semiconductor leads HBM bonding.
Hanmi Semiconductor is the top HBM bonding-equipment play. Micron expansion, TSMC-related opportunities, and broader DDR and LPDDR bonding demand expand its market, while any HBM form-factor change could force equipment replacement.
DI Corp sees strong inspection orders.
DI Corp's inspection equipment is seeing strong orders from Samsung and SK hynix, with reports that it is busy and struggling to meet volume. This makes it a favored semiconductor equipment name.
Chip materials benefit from utilization.
Korean semiconductor materials and consumables names benefit as fab utilization rises and local sourcing grows. Leeno Industrial, ISC, SNS Tech, FST, Hansol Chemical, Dongjin Semichem, and Foosung are cited as names to watch.
KC Tech benefits from HBM CMP.
KC Tech is a domestic CMP equipment maker that should benefit as HBM moves to 16-high stacks, requiring thinner wafers and more CMP. It competes with Applied Materials, but any order win could create momentum.
EcoPro earnings expectations improving.
EcoPro's earnings have turned around on precursor and recycling-related factors, and the stock's recent strength reflects improving earnings expectations.
Hanmi Pharmaceutical undervalued as bio.
Hanmi Pharmaceutical is too cheap if viewed as a bio company rather than a traditional pharma. Its market cap is only about KRW 6tn versus Alteogen above KRW 20tn and ABL Bio near KRW 12tn, while its pipeline, North Gyeong Hanmi profits, diabetes supply contracts, and emerging-market sales support value.
Korean substrate makers benefit from demand.
Substrate demand keeps rising while China is not used, so Korean substrate makers should benefit. Simmtech's holding-company disclosure issue is temporary, and the stock should fill its gap, with Daeduck Electronics and Korea Circuit also in the group.
This 815 Money Talk (815머니톡) video, published January 28, 2026,
features Park Hyun-sang, Kim Tae-seong, Lee Ju-hyeon, Kim Hyeong-cheol, Min Jae-gi, Lee Kwon-hee
discussing EWY, KOSDAQ, Korean semiconductor equipment/materials sector, Korean bio sector, Korean secondary battery sector, Korean securities sector, Korean Banks Sector, GLD, SILVER, COPPER, MSFT, RR, NVDA, 005930.KS, 000660.KS, MU, GOOGL, META, TSLA, ASML, LRCX, 005380.KS, 000270.KS, 067310.KQ, TSE, 078350.KQ, 068270.KS, Memory stocks, 096770.KS, GLW, COHR, LITE, CIEN, LS, 001440.KS, 010170.KQ, 138080.KQ, 373220.KS, 006400.KS, 218410.KQ, 327260.KQ, 010120.KS, 267260.KS, 298040.KS, 189300.KQ, 099320.KQ, PL, ASTS, 042700.KS, 030200.KS, PSK, AMKR, 397030.KQ, 000990.KS, 060280.KQ, LivsMed, 080220.KQ, 017670.KS, BE, KOSES, 126340.KQ, 003160.KS, Leeno Industrial, ISC, SNS Tech, 036810.KQ, 014680.KS, Dongjin Semichem, 093370.KS, KC Tech, 086520.KQ, 128940.KS, 222800.KQ, 008060.KS, 024110.
50 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.
Speakers:
Park Hyun-sang,
Kim Tae-seong,
Lee Ju-hyeon,
Kim Hyeong-cheol,
Min Jae-gi,
Lee Kwon-hee
· Tickers:
EWY,
KOSDAQ,
Korean semiconductor equipment/materials sector,
Korean bio sector,
Korean secondary battery sector,
Korean securities sector,
Korean Banks Sector,
GLD,
SILVER,
COPPER,
MSFT,
RR,
NVDA,
005930.KS,
000660.KS,
MU,
GOOGL,
META,
TSLA,
ASML,
LRCX,
005380.KS,
000270.KS,
067310.KQ,
TSE,
078350.KQ,
068270.KS,
Memory stocks,
096770.KS,
GLW,
COHR,
LITE,
CIEN,
LS,
001440.KS,
010170.KQ,
138080.KQ,
373220.KS,
006400.KS,
218410.KQ,
327260.KQ,
010120.KS,
267260.KS,
298040.KS,
189300.KQ,
099320.KQ,
PL,
ASTS,
042700.KS,
030200.KS,
PSK,
AMKR,
397030.KQ,
000990.KS,
060280.KQ,
LivsMed,
080220.KQ,
017670.KS,
BE,
KOSES,
126340.KQ,
003160.KS,
Leeno Industrial,
ISC,
SNS Tech,
036810.KQ,
014680.KS,
Dongjin Semichem,
093370.KS,
KC Tech,
086520.KQ,
128940.KS,
222800.KQ,
008060.KS,
024110
