Seoul, Jan 12, 2026, 00:48 KST — Market closed
South Korean retail investors snapped up 2.915 trillion won worth of Samsung Electronics (005930) shares last week, while unloading roughly 167 billion won in SK Hynix, according to Korea Exchange data. Margin loans tied to Samsung hit a new high of 1.977 trillion won, the figures revealed. Samsung closed Friday at 139,000 won, up 0.14%, after a day’s trading range between 135,200 and 140,700 won, market data showed.
Samsung’s surge now drives the KOSPI’s strong start to the year, but opinions diverge on whether the stock has overshot. “Instead of chasing prices now, it’s better to raise weights through volatility,” said Jeong Hae-chang of Daishin Securities Co., as the won slipped again and tariff news lingered.
Foreign investors complicated the picture, unloading a hefty 2.05 trillion won in Samsung shares, according to the Korea Herald. This heavy selling came despite foreigners being net buyers across the broader KOSPI.
Beyond Korea, India has emerged as a new battleground for global phone makers like Samsung. The country is mulling over a set of 83 telecom security standards that could force smartphone companies to hand over source code to designated labs and notify the government of major software updates, according to a Reuters review of official documents and sources close to the discussions. IT Secretary S. Krishnan told Reuters that “any legitimate concerns of the industry will be addressed with an open mind.” Executives are scheduled to meet again on Tuesday.
Samsung is also leaning on a home-market support move, though it isn’t designed to prop up the stock price directly. According to a filing, the company plans to buy back 2.5 trillion won ($1.73 billion) of its own shares to use for employee and executive compensation. The purchases will take place on the market between Jan. 8 and April 7.
The recent surge has hinged on an earnings bounce-back that outpaced many investors’ forecasts. On Jan. 8, Samsung projected fourth-quarter sales between 92 trillion and 94 trillion won, with operating profits ranging from 19.9 trillion to 20.1 trillion won, based on Korean accounting standards (K-IFRS).
The memory market still looks tight at a glance, but price movements are getting erratic. In China’s spot market, server-grade DDR5 modules have hit headline-grabbing prices, drawing viral comparisons to housing costs. Vendors are asking over 40,000 yuan ($5,700) for 256GB sticks from Samsung and SK hynix. Yet, actual buying interest remains weak, according to sellers.
Monday’s Seoul session will hinge on whether retail interest remains strong after the market reopens or if the rally triggers crowding concerns following the rapid rise. If foreign investors resume steady buying, it could ease worries over leverage and the speed of gains.
The risk here is clear: leverage works in both directions. If shares drop, margin calls could trigger rapid sell-offs, deepening the slide. On the business front, any indication that soaring memory prices are dampening demand—or that India tightens its security policies—would challenge the optimistic outlook baked into recent price targets.
Samsung’s fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call is set for 10 a.m. KST on Jan. 29. Investors will be watching closely to see how much of the profit rebound stems from chips and whether that momentum can carry into 2026.
