Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>On 4 November, the Chinese government suddenly announced it will waive visa requirements for South Korean citizens entering China. </li>
<li>This is likely to have a major positive impact on major travel/airline stocks including Hana Tour Service, Korean Air Lines,  Very Good Leisure, Yellow Balloon Tour, and Modetour Network.</li>
<li>A no-visa policy by China for South Korean citizens could also imply a reciprocal policy by the South Korean government. </li>
</ul>


On 4 November, the Chinese government suddenly announced it will waive visa requirements for South Korean citizens entering China. 
This is likely to have a major positive impact on major travel/airline stocks including Hana Tour Service, Korean Air Lines,  Very Good Leisure, Yellow Balloon Tour, and Modetour Network.
A no-visa policy by China for South Korean citizens could also imply a reciprocal policy by the South Korean government. 


Chinese Government Announces a No-Visa Policy for South Korean Citizens Entering China

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>Now that Lee Jae-Myung has become new South Korean President, the uncertainty revolving who will lead South Korea in the next five years is now over.</li>
<li>In this insight, we discuss four investment themes (related to Lee Jae-Myung becoming the new South Korean President) that could outperform the market for the remainder of 2025.</li>
<li>The four investment themes include Korean Holdcos/Quasi Holdcos, Korean Cultural Contents, Securities, and SK Group Companies.</li>
</ul>


Now that Lee Jae-Myung has become new South Korean President, the uncertainty revolving who will lead South Korea in the next five years is now over.
In this insight, we discuss four investment themes (related to Lee Jae-Myung becoming the new South Korean President) that could outperform the market for the remainder of 2025.
The four investment themes include Korean Holdcos/Quasi Holdcos, Korean Cultural Contents, Securities, and SK Group Companies.


Lee Jae-Myung Becomes the New South Korean President - Four Investment Themes That Could Outperform

<ul>
<li>On 28 November, the Korean National Assembly reached an agreement on a tax reform plan to officially lower taxes on dividends income. </li>
<li>The decline in tax on dividends is a definite step in the right direction. Nonetheless, the top bracket dividend tax rate cut was slightly less than what market was expecting. </li>
<li>Given that about 15%-25% dividend tax rates are more common in other developed countries,  Korea's reduction of dividend taxes is likely to be welcomed highly by many global investors.</li>
</ul>


On 28 November, the Korean National Assembly reached an agreement on a tax reform plan to officially lower taxes on dividends income. 
The decline in tax on dividends is a definite step in the right direction. Nonetheless, the top bracket dividend tax rate cut was slightly less than what market was expecting. 
Given that about 15%-25% dividend tax rates are more common in other developed countries,  Korea's reduction of dividend taxes is likely to be welcomed highly by many global investors.


Top Bracket Dividend Tax Rate Lowered to 30% in Korea [Moderately Positive]

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>KRX announced changes to KOSPI200 and KOSDAQ150 indices. These changes will be effective from 12 December 2025. </li>
<li>In KOSPI200, there are 8 new additions and 8 deletions. Among the new additions include LG CNS, Sanil Electric, Asia Holdings, and Paradise.</li>
<li>There could be a buying opportunity for LG CNS due to its inclusion in KOSPI200 combined with its attractive valuations and accelerating sales and operating profit growth in 2026. </li>
</ul>


KRX announced changes to KOSPI200 and KOSDAQ150 indices. These changes will be effective from 12 December 2025. 
In KOSPI200, there are 8 new additions and 8 deletions. Among the new additions include LG CNS, Sanil Electric, Asia Holdings, and Paradise.
There could be a buying opportunity for LG CNS due to its inclusion in KOSPI200 combined with its attractive valuations and accelerating sales and operating profit growth in 2026. 


Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

<ul>
<li>There will be 7 additions and 8 deletions for the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 (KOSPI2 INDEX)</a> at the next rebalance to be implemented at the close on 11 December.</li>
<li>As expected, there are no adhoc inclusions as Samsung Epis Holdings is added to the index to offset the gap created by the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hd-hyundai-heavy-industries-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33808:1" rel="noopener">Hyundai Heavy</a>/ <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hd-hyundai-mipo" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2755:1" rel="noopener">Hyundai Mipo</a> merger.</li>
<li>The adds have outperformed the deletes very handily while also outperforming the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 (KOSPI2 INDEX)</a> but by a much narrower margin.</li>
</ul>


There will be 7 additions and 8 deletions for the Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 (KOSPI2 INDEX) at the next rebalance to be implemented at the close on 11 December.
As expected, there are no adhoc inclusions as Samsung Epis Holdings is added to the index to offset the gap created by the Hyundai Heavy/ Hyundai Mipo merger.
The adds have outperformed the deletes very handily while also outperforming the Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 (KOSPI2 INDEX) but by a much narrower margin.


South Korea

Hana Tour Service Inc. wholesales a variety of travel related services.  The Company provides outbound, inbound and domestic travel packages and cooperates with credit card companies and Internet shopping malls to market its services. Hana Tour Service also works as general sales agency (GSA) of overseas cruise and rail passes.

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Hana Tour Service (039130 KS)

Chinese Government Announces a No-Visa Policy for South Korean Citizens Entering China

The Chinese government suddenly announced it will waive visa requirements for South Korean citizens entering China. This is likely to have a major...

Douglas Kim

Lee Jae-Myung Becomes the New South Korean President - Four Investment Themes That Could Outperform

In this insight, we discuss four investment themes (related to Lee Jae-Myung becoming the new South Korean President) that could outperform the...

Douglas Kim

Top Bracket Dividend Tax Rate Lowered to 30% in Korea [Moderately Positive]

On 28 November, the Korean National Assembly reached an agreement on a tax reform plan to officially lower taxes on dividends income.

Douglas Kim

KRX Announces Changes to KOSPI200 Index

KRX announced changes to KOSPI200 and KOSDAQ150 indices effective 12 December 2025. LG CNS could present a buying opportunity with its inclusion,...

Douglas Kim

KOSPI200 Index Rebalance: Nearly Perfect

As expected, there are 7 changes a side (ignoring the merger, which was known). No ad hoc inclusions since the Hyundai merger offsets the Samsung...

Brian Freitas

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Chinese Government Announces a No-Visa Policy for South Korean Citizens Entering China

The Chinese government suddenly announced it will waive visa requirements for South Korean citizens entering China. This is likely to have a major...

Douglas Kim

Lee Jae-Myung Becomes the New South Korean President - Four Investment Themes That Could Outperform

In this insight, we discuss four investment themes (related to Lee Jae-Myung becoming the new South Korean President) that could outperform the...

Douglas Kim

Top Bracket Dividend Tax Rate Lowered to 30% in Korea [Moderately Positive]

On 28 November, the Korean National Assembly reached an agreement on a tax reform plan to officially lower taxes on dividends income.

Douglas Kim

KRX Announces Changes to KOSPI200 Index

​KRX announced changes to KOSPI200 and KOSDAQ150 indices effective 12 December 2025. LG CNS could present a buying opportunity with its inclusion,...

Douglas Kim

KOSPI200 Index Rebalance: Nearly Perfect

As expected, there are 7 changes a side (ignoring the merger, which was known). No ad hoc inclusions since the Hyundai merger offsets the Samsung...

Brian Freitas

KRX announced changes to KOSPI200 and KOSDAQ150 indices effective 12 December 2025. LG CNS could present a buying opportunity with its inclusion,...