Korea / Special Situations, Clepsydra Capital

Sanghyun Park

Korea / Special Situations

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing

Clepsydra Capital

Investigate special situations, pairs, and index rebalancing trades in Korea.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The market is increasingly pricing in stronger shareholder push ahead of the March AGM season, with a higher chance of this theme being front-run locally.</li>
<li>Market intel suggests the FSC’s sudden shareholder engagement clarification ties to a recent Capital Markets Act amendment mandating sub-1x PBR companies to disclose value-up plans.</li>
<li>Screened targets: sub-1x PBR companies (FY2025 Q3) without KRX value-up filings, &gt;KRW 10B daily turnover. These look set to be the key near-term targets in the local market. </li>
</ul>


The market is increasingly pricing in stronger shareholder push ahead of the March AGM season, with a higher chance of this theme being front-run locally.
Market intel suggests the FSC’s sudden shareholder engagement clarification ties to a recent Capital Markets Act amendment mandating sub-1x PBR companies to disclose value-up plans.
Screened targets: sub-1x PBR companies (FY2025 Q3) without KRX value-up filings, &gt;KRW 10B daily turnover. These look set to be the key near-term targets in the local market. 


Screened Target List for Korea FSC’s Surprise New Play on Shareholder Push, Unveiled Yesterday

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal, Shenton Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China Biotech

Shenton Research

Shenton Research is an independent Asia Pacific equity specialist. Our quantitative research covers index rebalancing flows, alongside exchange data analytics accross Asia Pacific. On the equity capital markets side, we focus on Asia Pacific ECM, especially biotech and TMT. Our lead analyst is frequently cited by international media.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analysed the earning revision of component stocks of KOSPI 200 in the past month.</li>
<li>We tabulated stocks with the top impact on index's EPS, stocks' EPS revision, and revenue revision.</li>
<li>We highlighted EPS revision on Samsung Electronics, SK Innovation, KEPCO, S-Oil, KCC, LG Chem, SKCHEM.</li>
</ul>


We analysed the earning revision of component stocks of KOSPI 200 in the past month.
We tabulated stocks with the top impact on index's EPS, stocks' EPS revision, and revenue revision.
We highlighted EPS revision on Samsung Electronics, SK Innovation, KEPCO, S-Oil, KCC, LG Chem, SKCHEM.


KOSPI 200 Index Earning Revision (Sep): Samsung Electronics, SK Innovation, KEPCO, S-Oil, KCC

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in short interest of KRX stocks as of Sep 18th. The aggregated short interest was USD18.1bn.</li>
<li>We tabulate league tables for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.</li>
<li>We highlight short interest changes in SK Hynix, DB HiTek, SIMMTECH, JEL, Samsung Elec (PREF).</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in short interest of KRX stocks as of Sep 18th. The aggregated short interest was USD18.1bn.
We tabulate league tables for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.
We highlight short interest changes in SK Hynix, DB HiTek, SIMMTECH, JEL, Samsung Elec (PREF).


KRX Short Interest Weekly (Sep 18th): SK Hynix, DB HiTek, SIMMTECH, JEL, Samsung Elec (PREF)

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>There is an important potential change in dividend income taxes that may finally be passed into law in Korea.</li>
<li>The Democratic Party of Korea (led by Democratic Party lawmaker Lee So-Young) is pushing legislation to separate the taxation of dividends from comprehensive income for publicly listed companies.</li>
<li>Among the top 100 companies in KOSPI (by market cap), there are 21 companies with more than 35% estimated dividend payout in 2025, including SK Telecom, POSCO Holdings, and KT&amp;G.</li>
</ul>


There is an important potential change in dividend income taxes that may finally be passed into law in Korea.
The Democratic Party of Korea (led by Democratic Party lawmaker Lee So-Young) is pushing legislation to separate the taxation of dividends from comprehensive income for publicly listed companies.
Among the top 100 companies in KOSPI (by market cap), there are 21 companies with more than 35% estimated dividend payout in 2025, including SK Telecom, POSCO Holdings, and KT&amp;G.


Potential Change in Dividend Income Taxes in Korea - Will the Lawmakers Finally Make the Change?

<ul>
<li>FSC Chairman Kim Joo-hyun mentioned that too many companies in Korea are trading below book value and the FSC plans to implement changes to improve upon this issue. </li>
<li>According to Korea Exchange, 1,111 companies out of total listed in KOSPI and KOSDAQ in Korea (2,538) are trading at below 1x book value (PBR) (liquidation value). </li>
<li>According to the Capital Group, about 39% of companies in the TOPIX trade below book value, compared to just 5% for companies in the S&amp;P 500 Index. </li>
</ul>


FSC Chairman Kim Joo-hyun mentioned that too many companies in Korea are trading below book value and the FSC plans to implement changes to improve upon this issue. 
According to Korea Exchange, 1,111 companies out of total listed in KOSPI and KOSDAQ in Korea (2,538) are trading at below 1x book value (PBR) (liquidation value). 
According to the Capital Group, about 39% of companies in the TOPIX trade below book value, compared to just 5% for companies in the S&amp;P 500 Index. 


44% of Korean Stocks Are Trading Below Book Value - FSC Wants to Improve This (Following Japan)

South Korea

Hyundai Steel Company is an electric furnace steel maker.  The Company manufactures concrete reinforcing bars, H beams, stainless steel sheets, cast steel, and other steel products.  Hyundai Steel sells its products to the domestic and overseas markets.

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Hyundai Steel (004020 KS)

Screened Target List for Korea FSC’s Surprise New Play on Shareholder Push, Unveiled Yesterday

This post provides the screened target list for Korea FSC’s surprise new play on shareholder push, unveiled just yesterday.

Sanghyun Park

KOSPI 200 Index Earning Revision (Sep): Samsung Electronics, SK Innovation, KEPCO, S-Oil, KCC

We analyzed KOSPI 200's consensus for Sep 2026 and highlighted changes of EPS in Samsung Electronics, SK Innovation, KEPCO, S-Oil, KCC, LG Chem,...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

KRX Short Interest Weekly (Sep 18th): SK Hynix, DB HiTek, SIMMTECH, JEL, Samsung Elec (PREF)

We analyzed KRX short interest report for the past week and highlighted short interest changes in SK Hynix, DB HiTek, SIMMTECH, JEL, Samsung Elec...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Potential Change in Dividend Income Taxes in Korea - Will the Lawmakers Finally Make the Change?

Under the revised proposed law, it would apply separate tax rates to the dividends of listed companies with dividend payout ratios of more than 35%.

Douglas Kim

44% of Korean Stocks Are Trading Below Book Value - FSC Wants to Improve This (Following Japan)

A 44% of Korean stocks are trading below book value. FSC wants to improve this, following Japan's "name and shame" policy.

Douglas Kim

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