The stock market investment craze among young South Koreans.

VTV.vn - Many young people see the stock market as an opportunity to improve their financial situation, as real estate prices increasingly exceed their ability to save from salaries.

With the market consistently rising sharply since the beginning of the year, stock investing is gradually becoming a part of the daily lives of young people in South Korea. From university students to office workers, more and more people are spending time monitoring the market, trading stocks, and seeking opportunities to improve their income amidst rising living costs and increasing economic pressure.

According to data from the Korea Securities Depository Center, the number of individual investors under 30 owning shares of domestically listed companies has increased by 47% between 2020 and 2025. With the Kospi index having risen 101% since the beginning of the year, many young people see stocks as an opportunity to improve their financial standing, as real estate prices increasingly exceed the savings they can accumulate from salaries.

Kim Min Sung, a student, said: "I have two trading accounts. One account is for accumulating capital to buy real estate someday, and the other is for more risky investments with the hope of achieving financial freedom as soon as possible."

The investment wave is also spreading among office workers and manual laborers, who are facing increasing insecurity about their future job prospects and income.

Kwon Soon Kuk, an employee at a retail company, shared: "For me, the biggest keyword right now is 'uncertainty.' Life is full of risks and uncertainties. I can't predict how long my job will last, or when my income from my salary might suddenly be cut off."

The rise of online trading apps, financial social networks, and the surge in technology and AI stocks are making the stock market more attractive to young South Koreans. The fear of missing out during a booming market also leads many young people to readily borrow money or use financial leverage to invest.

This wave, while contributing to the rise of South Korean stocks, has also raised concerns about short-term speculation and financial risks if the market experiences significant volatility.

Professor Kim Yong Jin, a business administration expert at Sogang University, commented: "Recently, the market has been so volatile that it can fluctuate by more than 5% in a single day. University students and those with relatively small incomes from their jobs will find it difficult to recover if they borrow money to invest and then suffer losses. The excessive spread of speculative capital will further amplify volatility and harm the health of the capital market."

Experts believe that young people's interest in financial investment is a positive sign if it is accompanied by risk management knowledge and long-term strategies. However, chasing short-term speculative trends can also expose many inexperienced investors to significant risks in the future.

Source: https://vtv.vn/con-sot-dau-tu-chung-khoan-cua-nguoi-tre-han-quoc-100260530054954479.htm