Ideas
Memory shortage broadens beyond AI to legacy.
Global memory shortage is broadening from AI/HBM into legacy DRAM and related equipment; 4Q server DRAM prices rose over 50% and 1Q forecasts are higher, so the semiconductor upcycle is not just an Nvidia story and Korean memory names can keep re-rating.
Defense demand supports Korean defense names.
Defense held up without specific events and is attracting money over shipbuilding; Russia/NATO tensions and self-defense budget increases should keep Korean defense names strong.
KOSPI speed excessive; trim some profits.
KOSPI jumped 150 points in two days to 4,450, which is excessive speed; investors with gains should take some profits or reduce weight, and credit-related supply distortions could cause a shakeout.
Buy semiconductor equipment and materials next.
If Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are already stretched, late investors should look at semiconductor equipment/materials; HBM layer count increases drive demand for EO Technics and KCTech, and materials/parts tend to follow equipment.
Hanmi Semiconductor has multiple upside catalysts.
Hanmi Semiconductor is rallying on multiple catalysts: Micron strength, expectations that Samsung’s HBM4 will need its equipment, upcoming US IR meetings, and a new EMI shield product for space equipment; it can challenge its prior high and analyst target range.
Nuclear tax credits drive Doosan upside.
SMR/nuclear is getting policy support as a national strategic technology with large tax credits, and the 11th power plan raises nuclear’s share; Doosan Enerbility saw meaningful volume and should benefit.
Solid-state battery theme merits exposure.
Hyundai Motor’s solid-state battery news is positive for the solid-state theme; Samsung SDI is expected to be earliest with 2027-28 commercialization, and Korea has top solid-state technology, making it the best way to play secondary batteries.
Bio is next after semiconductors.
Bio is next after semiconductors; Celltrion is benefiting from biosimilar distribution and a Lilly plant acquisition, ABL Bio is the sector leader, and Orum Therapeutics’ DAC technology looks undervalued versus Aimed Bio with more upside.
Korean semiconductor supercycle remains intact.
Semiconductors remain the leading KOSPI sector as AI infrastructure investment and memory price increases drive earnings upgrades; foreign buying is broad and Samsung/SK hynix combined market cap is at a record share of KOSPI.
Samsung preferred over SK hynix.
Samsung Electronics is preferred over SK hynix because Citi lifted its target to 200,000 won on 155 trillion won 2026 operating profit, its PBR is lower, and commodity DRAM profitability now exceeds HBM, leaving a wider target-price gap.
Shipbuilding earnings revisions support sector.
Shipbuilding and shipbuilding materials have high EPS revisions and 1Q/2Q earnings could surprise positively, giving the sector stability as investors rotate out of crowded semis.
AI power infrastructure demand rising.
AI factories are shifting to 800VDC power architecture to cut current, losses and heat; high-voltage DC, SST, DC breakers and capacitors should see structural growth, favoring LS Electric, LS Materials, Vinatech, Vertiv and Delta Electronics.
Korean refiners benefit from cheaper heavy crude.
Venezuelan heavy crude returning to the market could lower Asian OSP, allowing Korean refiners to buy cheaper feedstock and improve margins; S-Oil, GS, SK Innovation and SK Gas are beneficiaries.
Space aerospace sector has positive outlook.
The new space race, Artemis, KASA satellite plans and low-orbit communications are accelerating, supporting a positive outlook for Korean aerospace/space companies.
Entertainment dips are buying opportunities.
Entertainment/music stocks fell on Hanryu restriction concerns, but Shinhan expects a 2026 big cycle with 7 trillion won revenue and 1 trillion won operating profit; dips are opportunities to expand weight.
Lotte Tour selloff looks overdone.
Lotte Tour Development fell on weak December metrics, but a large baccarat event likely delayed high-roller demand into February, so the selloff looks overdone.
First-quarter equities favorable before second-quarter risk.
In a bull market monetary policy dominates; 1Q should be favorable because inflation is likely to undershoot and the Fed/new chair will lean dovish, so investors should take profits early before 2Q tightening risk.
Semiconductor over-ordering cycle is next.
After the restocking cycle, semiconductors may enter an over-ordering cycle as ASIC competition breaks Nvidia’s monopoly and customers hoard memory, similar to pandemic inventory competition; this supports semis beyond normal cycle.
Soft AI themes benefit from easing.
If monetary policy becomes more accommodative, second-order “soft AI” themes such as space rockets, SMR/nuclear and computing tend to perform; watch for momentum and buy on confirmation.
Yongin real estate is too late.
Buying Yongin land or real estate now is too late; high-skilled semiconductor workers are more likely to live in Dongtan, while Yongin lacks infrastructure and could lose residents.
Dongtan real estate benefits from chip cluster.
Yongin’s semiconductor cluster may benefit Dongtan more than Yongin because Dongtan already has housing, hospitals, KTX/SRT and transport links; a new tunnel would make commuting even easier, so Dongtan still has upside.
This 3PRO TV (삼프로TV) video, published January 05, 2026,
features Kim Jang-yeol, Lee Jae-kyu, Park Geun-hyung, Lee Eun-taek, Kim Si-deok
discussing 005930.KS, 000660.KS, Korean semiconductor sector, Korean defense sector, EWY, Korean semiconductor equipment/materials sector, 030200.KS, 029460.KS, 042700.KS, 034020.KS, Korean nuclear/SMR sector, 006400.KS, Solid-state battery sector, ABL Bio, 068270.KS, Orum Therapeutics, Korean shipbuilding sector, 010120.KS, 417200.KQ, 126340.KQ, VRT, 2308.TW, 010950.KS, 078930.KS, 096770.KS, SK Gas, Korean aerospace/space sector, Korean entertainment/music sector, 032350.KS, Korean equities, SPY, SMH, ARKX, XLK, Yongin real estate, Dongtan real estate.
21 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.
Speakers:
Kim Jang-yeol,
Lee Jae-kyu,
Park Geun-hyung,
Lee Eun-taek,
Kim Si-deok
· Tickers:
005930.KS,
000660.KS,
Korean semiconductor sector,
Korean defense sector,
EWY,
Korean semiconductor equipment/materials sector,
030200.KS,
029460.KS,
042700.KS,
034020.KS,
Korean nuclear/SMR sector,
006400.KS,
Solid-state battery sector,
ABL Bio,
068270.KS,
Orum Therapeutics,
Korean shipbuilding sector,
010120.KS,
417200.KQ,
126340.KQ,
VRT,
2308.TW,
010950.KS,
078930.KS,
096770.KS,
SK Gas,
Korean aerospace/space sector,
Korean entertainment/music sector,
032350.KS,
Korean equities,
SPY,
SMH,
ARKX,
XLK,
Yongin real estate,
Dongtan real estate
