Ideas
Samsung earnings beat can lift shares.
Samsung Electronics is at a record high on expectations for its Jan 8 Q4 earnings. The consensus is around 19.5 trillion KRW operating profit, but Kim personally expects over 20 trillion, and full-year 2026 operating profit estimates range from 80 trillion to 130 trillion KRW. Memory prices, especially DDR5, are surging and customers are seeking multi-year contracts, while foreigners are absorbing selling from retail investors; target prices of 180,000-200,000 KRW and possible retail FOMO support further upside.
Memory upcycle supports SK hynix.
SK hynix is a key beneficiary of the memory upcycle. Kim cites 2026 operating profit expectations near 100 trillion KRW and a report target price as high as 1.15 million KRW. The stock initially lagged but rose sharply as Samsung led, showing the market is willing to pay for memory earnings growth.
Korean market bull run toward 5,000.
Kim is strongly bullish on the Korean market. KOSPI broke 4,300 for the first time on the first trading day of 2026, and he sees the index reaching 5,000 around Q2, with a possible peak around June-July. Support comes from semiconductor earnings, the government's K5000 policy, a National Growth Fund of about 30 trillion KRW per year over five years, a sovereign wealth fund, and April WGBI inclusion that could bring 70-100 trillion KRW. He wants to make money through spring before event and earnings-comparison risks rise.
Korean chip earnings drive market higher.
Kim expects Korean semiconductor earnings to be the core driver of the 2026 market. He notes that Samsung and SK hynix have high index weight and that AI/memory demand, rising DRAM prices, and strong earnings expectations can make the Korean market explode upward when these large caps move.
China opening boosts cosmetics, travel, content.
Kim sees a potential Korea-China relations thaw from the president's Beijing/Shanghai visit. If the Korean Wave ban is lifted or FTA talks advance, Korean content companies could gain China expansion momentum. He also notes that cosmetics, travel, and webtoon-related stocks already rose on improved China-Korea expectations, and the theme can revive depending on summit results.
Hyundai Mobis leads autonomous driving theme.
Hyundai Mobis hit a 52-week high and is seen as a likely leading company in Hyundai Motor Group's autonomous driving and software-defined vehicle initiatives, giving it a company-specific edge within the auto-sector innovation theme.
USD/KRW trapped between 1,400 and 1,500.
Kim expects USD/KRW to remain trapped below 1,500 and above 1,400 for at least a few weeks to a few months, averaging around 1,430, after authorities intervened from near 1,500. Stable or stronger KRW would limit foreign selling and could even bring foreign buying into Korean equities.
Chip equipment follows large-cap rally.
Kim argues that if Samsung and SK hynix rise at least 30%, the Korean semiconductor equipment and materials supply chain cannot lag. Some smaller equipment names can be more volatile and could rise more than 50%. He names DB HiTek, TES, and Hanmi Semiconductor as part of this supply-chain theme.
Celltrion can lead biotech in Jan-Feb.
Celltrion is highlighted as a biotech leader that can outperform in January-February. It recently rose double digits on a plant acquisition and supply contract, and Kim notes that Celltrion group lagged Samsung Biologics last year, leaving room to lead ahead of the JP Morgan healthcare conference.
Bio subthemes rotate within Korean market.
Within Korean biotech, Kim expects several themes to rotate: ADC, bispecific antibodies, obesity, MASH, dementia, and hair loss where policy issues have emerged. He views these as smaller thematic trades rather than one single sector call.
Korean robot stocks have further upside.
Kim expects CES 2026 and physical AI to keep robotics in focus, with humanoid robots and related technology as central themes. He dismisses claims that the robot market is too small, arguing that numbers will emerge over time and Korean robot stocks will play a meaningful role, so investors should actively reflect the theme.
Global nuclear renaissance supports nuclear sector.
Kim expects the nuclear power sector to move closer to a global renaissance over time, keeping it as a positive long-term theme.
Space theme can stir on news.
Kim calls space/aerospace an unexpected but large theme. SpaceX's private valuation of 1,000-2,000 trillion KRW could create large trickle-down effects for value-chain companies, and Korea's 2030 lunar mission means any moon, Mars, or Venus-related news can excite the sector.
KOSDAQ needs concrete target to rally.
Kim is not convinced by the current KOSDAQ activation plan because it lacks a clear target or task force. To be truly convincing, policy would need a concrete target such as KOSDAQ 1,200. Still, he sees a natural improvement path if the government pushes more IPOs and delists neglected companies, transforming KOSDAQ into a market with more AI and space-related companies.
This 815 Money Talk (815머니톡) video, published January 02, 2026,
features Kim Dong-yeop
discussing 005930.KS, 000660.KS, EWY, Korean semiconductor sector, Korean cosmetics, Korean travel, Korean webtoon/content, 012330.KS, USD/KRW, Korean semiconductor equipment/materials, 042700.KS, 000990.KS, 095610.KQ, 068270.KS, ADC, Bispecific antibodies, HRTS, MASH treatments, Hair loss treatments, Dementia treatments, Korean robot stocks, URA, Korean space/aerospace sector, KOSDAQ.
14 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.
Speakers:
Kim Dong-yeop
· Tickers:
005930.KS,
000660.KS,
EWY,
Korean semiconductor sector,
Korean cosmetics,
Korean travel,
Korean webtoon/content,
012330.KS,
USD/KRW,
Korean semiconductor equipment/materials,
042700.KS,
000990.KS,
095610.KQ,
068270.KS,
ADC,
Bispecific antibodies,
HRTS,
MASH treatments,
Hair loss treatments,
Dementia treatments,
Korean robot stocks,
URA,
Korean space/aerospace sector,
KOSDAQ
