Overseas media are focusing on a South Korean market trend in which retail investors are pulling money from deposits and savings-type insurance to buy large semiconductor stocks. BeInCrypto reported that funds are moving from safe assets into equities, concentrating on SK hynix and Samsung Electronics as expectations for AI semiconductor demand rise. It cited falling savings bank and term deposit balances, rising credit buying by older investors, and increased insurance cancellations, while warning of risks from leverage and volatility.

South Korea’s Financial Services Commission held a consultative body meeting with comprehensive investment finance companies, SME-focused brokerages and policy lenders to discuss ways to strengthen risk-capital supply, improve related rules and support exit markets. The FSC said seven firms with risk-capital obligations supplied 99 trillion won in the first quarter, up 20 trillion won from the previous quarter. It also outlined plans to expand SME-focused brokerage designations, incentives and evaluation rules, build an intermediation platform and step up oversight of leverage investment risks.