Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>Hanwha Asset Management has launched the process of listing the PLUS Korea Manufacturing Core Alliance (KMCA) Index ETF on the NYSE in 1H 2026.</li>
<li>KMCA ETF will includes companies in six core sectors: 1) AI semiconductors, 2) batteries, 3) shipbuilding, 4), defense, 5) power grids and nuclear energy, and 6) robots and humanoids.</li>
<li>This is likely to attract additional foreign capital into Korean stocks in the coming months. </li>
</ul>


Hanwha Asset Management has launched the process of listing the PLUS Korea Manufacturing Core Alliance (KMCA) Index ETF on the NYSE in 1H 2026.
KMCA ETF will includes companies in six core sectors: 1) AI semiconductors, 2) batteries, 3) shipbuilding, 4), defense, 5) power grids and nuclear energy, and 6) robots and humanoids.
This is likely to attract additional foreign capital into Korean stocks in the coming months. 


Hanwha Asset Mgmt Launching the PLUS Korea Manufacturing Core Alliance Index ETF (KMCA) On NYSE

<ul>
<li>We discuss the five most important factors driving the Korean stock market this year which was the best performing among all major country equity markets in the world in 2025.</li>
<li>These five factors included the global AI boom, wars and rumors of wars, beneficiaries of MASGA, Korea Value-Up initiatives, and reduced political uncertainties with new President elected in June 2025. </li>
<li>Our best bet to diversify one's portfolio and be more cautious because staying alive will be a key in 2026 rather than FOMO, especially in 2H 2026. </li>
</ul>


We discuss the five most important factors driving the Korean stock market this year which was the best performing among all major country equity markets in the world in 2025.
These five factors included the global AI boom, wars and rumors of wars, beneficiaries of MASGA, Korea Value-Up initiatives, and reduced political uncertainties with new President elected in June 2025. 
Our best bet to diversify one's portfolio and be more cautious because staying alive will be a key in 2026 rather than FOMO, especially in 2H 2026. 


Korean Stock Market - The Best Performing Among Major Countries Indices in 2025

<ul>
<li>It was reported that the Chinese government advised its citizens to refrain from traveling to Japan, which is likely to positively benefit the Korea in-bound tourism related stocks.</li>
<li>If the political tensions between China and Japan are not quickly resolved but continues to last, this would have further negative impact on the Japanese consumer/tourism/leisure related companies. </li>
<li>On the flip side, this could have a positive impact on the Korean consumer/tourism/leisure related companies such as Lotte Tour Development, Hotel Shilla, and Paradise. </li>
</ul>


It was reported that the Chinese government advised its citizens to refrain from traveling to Japan, which is likely to positively benefit the Korea in-bound tourism related stocks.
If the political tensions between China and Japan are not quickly resolved but continues to last, this would have further negative impact on the Japanese consumer/tourism/leisure related companies. 
On the flip side, this could have a positive impact on the Korean consumer/tourism/leisure related companies such as Lotte Tour Development, Hotel Shilla, and Paradise. 


China Advices Its Citizens to Refrain from Traveling to Japan - Beneficial Impact on Korea Tourism

Event-Driven

Korea Aerospace Industries / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>In the past several months, Hanwha Group companies purchased additional shares in Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) so their combined stake is now 15.89%. </li>
<li>Hanwha Aerospace owns 9.9% stake in KAI, followed by Hanwha Systems (4.98%), and Hanwha Aerospace USA (1.01%). </li>
<li>I provide four main scenarios of the potential next moves by the Hanwha Group companies regarding Korea Aerospace Industries. </li>
</ul>


In the past several months, Hanwha Group companies purchased additional shares in Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) so their combined stake is now 15.89%. 
Hanwha Aerospace owns 9.9% stake in KAI, followed by Hanwha Systems (4.98%), and Hanwha Aerospace USA (1.01%). 
I provide four main scenarios of the potential next moves by the Hanwha Group companies regarding Korea Aerospace Industries. 


Hanwha Aerospace and Other Hanwha Affiliates Now Own 15.9% of KAI - Next Move?

External broker reports(aggregated public sources), Mirae Asset Securities

Mirae Asset Securities

External broker reports(aggregated public sources)

Mirae Asset Securities Co.,Ltd. provides comprehensive wealth management services. The Company offers fixed income securities brokerage, securities dealing, equity underwriting, and other services. Mirae Asset Securities also deals with mergers and acquisitions, foreign currency, and financial derivatives

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul><li>The 3Q25 earnings season is set to kick off following the Chuseok holiday.</li><li>The consensus for Korean companies’ aggregate operating profit stands at W76tr (+18% YoY).</li><li>This figure has been revised up 1.9% over the past month, largely driven by Samsung Electronics (SEC) and SK Hynix. </li></ul>Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

The 3Q25 earnings season is set to kick off following the Chuseok holiday.The consensus for Korean companies’ aggregate operating profit stands at W76tr (+18% YoY).This figure has been revised up 1.9% over the past month, largely driven by Samsung Electronics (SEC) and SK Hynix. Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

Equity Strategy[October] Reduced Earnings Volatility Is the Key to a Re-Rating

South Korea

LIG Nex1 Co., Ltd. manufactures military and defense weapon systems.  The Company develops missiles, radio equipment, torpedoes, radar equipment, and other defense products.  LIG Nex1 produces weapons for the global defense industry and operates throughout South Korea.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

LIG Nex1 Co (079550 KS)

Hanwha Asset Mgmt Launching the PLUS Korea Manufacturing Core Alliance Index ETF (KMCA) On NYSE

Hanwha Asset Management has launched the process of listing the PLUS Korea Manufacturing Core Alliance (KMCA) Index ETF on the NYSE in 1H 2026.

Douglas Kim

Korean Stock Market - The Best Performing Among Major Countries Indices in 2025

We discuss the five most important factors driving the Korean stock market this year which was the best performing among all major country equity...

Douglas Kim

China Advices Its Citizens to Refrain from Traveling to Japan - Beneficial Impact on Korea Tourism

Chinese government advising against travel to Japan could boost Korean tourism stocks, while prolonged tensions could harm Japanese companies.

Douglas Kim

Hanwha Aerospace and Other Hanwha Affiliates Now Own 15.9% of KAI - Next Move?

In the past several months, Hanwha Group companies purchased additional shares in Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) so their combined stake is now...

Douglas Kim

Equity Strategy[October] Reduced Earnings Volatility Is the Key to a Re-Rating

The 3Q25 earnings season is set to kick off following the Chuseok holiday. The consensus for Korean companies’ aggregate operating profit stands at...

Mirae Asset Securities

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Hanwha Asset Mgmt Launching the PLUS Korea Manufacturing Core Alliance Index ETF (KMCA) On NYSE

Hanwha Asset Management has launched the process of listing the PLUS Korea Manufacturing Core Alliance (KMCA) Index ETF on the NYSE in 1H 2026.

Douglas Kim

Korean Stock Market - The Best Performing Among Major Countries Indices in 2025

We discuss the five most important factors driving the Korean stock market this year which was the best performing among all major country equity...

Douglas Kim

China Advices Its Citizens to Refrain from Traveling to Japan - Beneficial Impact on Korea Tourism

​Chinese government advising against travel to Japan could boost Korean tourism stocks, while prolonged tensions could harm Japanese companies.

Douglas Kim

Hanwha Aerospace and Other Hanwha Affiliates Now Own 15.9% of KAI - Next Move?

In the past several months, Hanwha Group companies purchased additional shares in Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) so their combined stake is now...

Douglas Kim

Equity Strategy[October] Reduced Earnings Volatility Is the Key to a Re-Rating

The 3Q25 earnings season is set to kick off following the Chuseok holiday. The consensus for Korean companies’ aggregate operating profit stands at...

Mirae Asset Securities

Chinese government advising against travel to Japan could boost Korean tourism stocks, while prolonged tensions could harm Japanese companies.