Ideas
Domestic demand strength is structural.
Yeom argued that Korean domestic-demand sectors are genuinely hot and are becoming trend-like rather than a one-off bounce. He tied this to foreign tourist inflows, wealth effects from asset gains, and higher corporate bonuses feeding consumption.
AI infrastructure remains a leading market theme.
Kim said AI infrastructure was the core leadership theme of the session, with power/nuclear/energy and semiconductors such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, plus LG Electronics, all linked to it. He argued this leadership can persist because the AI buildout is broad and liquidity is supporting related large caps.
Watch LG after earnings-driven PBR re-rating.
Kim explained LG Electronics' 23% jump as a combination of a surprising earnings beat, low valuation near 0.8x P/B, and renewed physical-AI/robotics narrative. However, he cautioned that no new hard robot fact emerged and the stock has already reached brokerage target prices around 120k-140k, so follow-through requires either more earnings evidence or new AI/robot-specific developments.
Hyundai robot value supports long-term upside.
Yeom noted that Hyundai Motor's Atlas robot demonstration at CES was impressive and that Boston Dynamics value is discussed around 100 trillion won, which could materially affect Hyundai's corporate value. However, the stock already re-rated strongly, so he treated it as a robot-value watch rather than a fresh buy call.
Hotels and casinos see structural tourism.
Yeom said hotels and casinos should not be dismissed as a temporary flow. Foreign tourist arrivals are rising, Chinese spring festival bookings are increasing amid Japan-China tensions, and hotel supply is severely constrained, making the theme structural.
Department stores benefit from structural tourism.
Yeom argued Korean department stores are becoming a structural investment, not a cyclical bounce. Foreign tourist spending is shifting from duty-free shops to department stores, Shinsegae's foreigner share of sales reached about 7.5%, luxury sales are rising, and domestic wealth effects plus higher bonuses support consumption; he said mid/long-term investment in department stores is now reasonable.
Liquidity supports further KOSPI upside.
Kim said KOSPI strength is supported by abundant liquidity and undemanding valuation: with the index around 5,350 and roughly 10x earnings, it has not yet re-rated. He saw room toward 5,500-5,600 before overheating unless retail leverage or forced insurance selling becomes extreme.
US nuclear orders favor Korean builders.
Yeom was bullish on nuclear power for 2026, citing expected US orders and Washington's request that Korea invest in nuclear first. Because nuclear plants take 10+ years to build and the US cannot execute alone, Korean constructors with proven capability should benefit; the theme is also tied to AI power demand. He named Hyundai E&C as the most US-active builder and KEPCO as another beneficiary.
Daewoo E&C is nuclear catch-up play.
Yeom viewed Daewoo E&C as the catch-up leader in the nuclear construction trade. It was the sole builder for the Czech nuclear project and is the next most active Korean builder in the US after Hyundai E&C, while trading at only around 0.8-0.9x P/B versus Hyundai E&C's 1.3-1.4x, leaving room to close the valuation gap.
Construction benefits from nuclear and data centers.
Yeom liked the Korean construction sector because builders should benefit not only from nuclear projects but also from data-center construction, a likely rebound in housing starts, and government supply policy.
IS Dongseo Gyeongsan pre-sale is catalyst.
Kim highlighted IS Dongseo's large pre-sale in the Gyeongsan region around March/April, reportedly worth more than 3 trillion won. He said success there would signal that regional housing sentiment is recovering and could serve as a catalyst for the construction/laggard housing theme.
Coupang GMV decline may continue.
Kim said Coupang's GMV had fallen about 5% and could continue to decline, as third-party logistics and dawn-delivery alternatives gain room. This was the negative side of his CJ Logistics-positive pair.
CJ Logistics gains as Coupang weakens.
Kim saw CJ Logistics as a beneficiary of Coupang's 5% GMV decline and the shift toward third-party dawn-delivery logistics. He noted CJ Logistics grew about 6% despite lower prices and traded around 0.8x P/B, which he considered not expensive.
AprilBio atopic dermatitis data validates platform.
Yeom highlighted AprilBio's partner Evommune reporting positive Phase 2 atopic dermatitis data using AprilBio's half-life extension platform, which extended drug duration about ninefold. He said the large atopic dermatitis market and the Korean-origin technology success improve confidence in the biotech sector and were a timely positive catalyst.
ISU Petasys looks expensive, wait lower.
Kim said ISU Petasys was not attractive at current levels because it trades at 30-40x earnings and is more expensive than global peers such as Broadcom/Nvidia-related comparables. He would wait for a cheaper entry, mentioning levels below 120k won.
Doosan expensive, wait for lower entry.
Kim said Doosan Corp is tied to the Nvidia/electronics-materials trade but has holding-company characteristics and was not cheap. He argued Nvidia's sluggish stock action implied limited near-term fun for Doosan, and he would prefer to approach below 900k won; he also advised not trading Doosan Enerbility against Doosan Corp.
Favor semiconductor equipment over expensive PCB.
Kim argued that within the Korean semiconductor supply chain, investors should favor higher-beta equipment and NAND-related names as Samsung and SK hynix capex estimates surge. He was more cautious on PCB/substrate names that had already rallied and looked expensive.
Kioxia earnings may lift memory prices.
Kim flagged Kioxia's earnings as a near-term memory catalyst. If Kioxia gives an aggressive NAND price outlook, second-quarter memory price increases could prove stronger than expected, potentially adding about 10% upside to Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.
Equinix earnings gauge data-center demand.
Kim said Equinix earnings would be a key read on data-center demand and hyperscaler pre-sales. If pre-sale lead times remain extended or strengthen, it would support the AI infrastructure and semiconductor demand narrative.
Samsung HBM and foundry upside needs proof.
Kim laid out a constructive Samsung Electronics case: possible HBM share gains versus Micron and SK hynix, narrowing foundry losses with a possible profit turn, and growing Galaxy AP foundry share. He noted that if EPS is around 20k won and the market applies 10x, fair value is about 200k won, with 11-12x implying mid-200k won, but he said the thesis needs confirmation.
Hold Korean stocks through the holiday.
Yeom advised simply holding Korean equities through the long holiday rather than rebalancing. He argued that in a strong, liquidity-rich market, long holidays have often been followed by continued strength, and that selling risks missing the rebound and re-entry.
This 3PRO TV (삼프로TV) video, published February 11, 2026,
features Yeom Seung-hwan, Kim Jang-yeol
discussing Korean domestic demand/consumer sector, AIQ, 066570.KS, 005380.KS, Korean hotel/casino sector, 004170.KS, Korean department stores, ^KS11, Korean nuclear power sector, 000720.KS, 015760.KS, 047040.KS, Korean construction sector, 010780.KS, CPNG, 000120.KS, 397030.KQ, 007660.KS, 000150.KS, Korean semiconductor equipment/materials, 285A.T, 000660.KS, EQIX, 005930.KS.
21 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.
Speakers:
Yeom Seung-hwan,
Kim Jang-yeol
· Tickers:
Korean domestic demand/consumer sector,
AIQ,
066570.KS,
005380.KS,
Korean hotel/casino sector,
004170.KS,
Korean department stores,
^KS11,
Korean nuclear power sector,
000720.KS,
015760.KS,
047040.KS,
Korean construction sector,
010780.KS,
CPNG,
000120.KS,
397030.KQ,
007660.KS,
000150.KS,
Korean semiconductor equipment/materials,
285A.T,
000660.KS,
EQIX,
005930.KS
