Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

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>There are some major surprises (both inclusions and exclusions) in the Korea Value Up index. </li>
<li>In particular, the telecom sector (SK Telecom and KT) and large cap holding companies (Samsung C&amp;T and LG Corp) are surprising exclusions in the index.</li>
<li>There are many surprising inclusions in the Korea Value Up Index. We provide 30 companies are surprising inclusions in the Korea Value Up Index (19 KOSDAQ and 11 KOSPI listed).</li>
</ul>


There are some major surprises (both inclusions and exclusions) in the Korea Value Up index. 
In particular, the telecom sector (SK Telecom and KT) and large cap holding companies (Samsung C&amp;T and LG Corp) are surprising exclusions in the index.
There are many surprising inclusions in the Korea Value Up Index. We provide 30 companies are surprising inclusions in the Korea Value Up Index (19 KOSDAQ and 11 KOSPI listed).


Korea Value Up Index - Surprising Inclusions and Exclusions

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>One of the big thematic events on the Korean stock market has been the expectation that China could lift ban on Korean popular culture (Hallyu) as early as May 2025. </li>
<li>China's President Xi recently stated <em>"Cultural exchanges are a valuable part of our bilateral relations [between China and Korea]. We should avoid any problems occurring in handling such matters.” </em>
</li>
<li>We provide a list of 40 stocks in Korea that could most benefit from the end of lifting ban of Korean popular culture. </li>
</ul>


One of the big thematic events on the Korean stock market has been the expectation that China could lift ban on Korean popular culture (Hallyu) as early as May 2025. 
China's President Xi recently stated "Cultural exchanges are a valuable part of our bilateral relations [between China and Korea]. We should avoid any problems occurring in handling such matters.” 

We provide a list of 40 stocks in Korea that could most benefit from the end of lifting ban of Korean popular culture. 


China Could Lift Ban on Korean Popular Culture (Hallyu) As Early As May 2025

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech, Aequitas Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in short interest of KRX stocks as of Feb 14th which has an aggregated short interest worth USD3.7bn.</li>
<li>We tabulate league table 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, Hanwha Ocean.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in short interest of KRX stocks as of Feb 14th which has an aggregated short interest worth USD3.7bn.
We tabulate league table 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, Hanwha Ocean.


KRX Short Interest Weekly (Feb 14th): SK Hynix, Hanwha Ocean

<ul>
<li>Naver's CHZZK has been increasing its market share in the Korean live game streaming sector. This improving momentum is likely to continue to positively impact Naver's share price. </li>
<li>CHZZK was the top ranking live streaming platform in Korea in December 2024 with about 2.5 million MAU.</li>
<li>Naver is currently trading at EV/EBITDA of 11.4x and P/E of 18.3x, which are 50% and 51% lower respectively than its historical average valuation multiples from 2020 to 2023.</li>
</ul>


Naver's CHZZK has been increasing its market share in the Korean live game streaming sector. This improving momentum is likely to continue to positively impact Naver's share price. 
CHZZK was the top ranking live streaming platform in Korea in December 2024 with about 2.5 million MAU.
Naver is currently trading at EV/EBITDA of 11.4x and P/E of 18.3x, which are 50% and 51% lower respectively than its historical average valuation multiples from 2020 to 2023.


Naver: CHZZK Increasing Market Share in the Korean Live Game Streaming Sector

South Korea

Soop Co., Ltd. offers new media platform services. The Company provides digital media storage, streaming, downloading, video on demand, advertising services, and other services. Soop offers services in South Korea.

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

Soop (067160 KS)

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

Korea Value Up Index - Surprising Inclusions and Exclusions

There are many surprising inclusions and exclusions in the Korea Value Up Index. We provide 30 companies that are surprising inclusions and 10...

Douglas Kim

China Could Lift Ban on Korean Popular Culture (Hallyu) As Early As May 2025

One of the big thematic events that have impacted the Korean stock market this week has been the expectation that China could lift ban on Korean...

Douglas Kim

KRX Short Interest Weekly (Feb 14th): SK Hynix, Hanwha Ocean

We analyzed KRX short interest report for the past week and highlighted short interest changes in SK Hynix, Hanwha Ocean.

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

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

Korea Value Up Index - Surprising Inclusions and Exclusions

There are many surprising inclusions and exclusions in the Korea Value Up Index. We provide 30 companies that are surprising inclusions and 10...

Douglas Kim

China Could Lift Ban on Korean Popular Culture (Hallyu) As Early As May 2025

One of the big thematic events that have impacted the Korean stock market this week has been the expectation that China could lift ban on Korean...

Douglas Kim

KRX Short Interest Weekly (Feb 14th): SK Hynix, Hanwha Ocean

We analyzed KRX short interest report for the past week and highlighted short interest changes in SK Hynix, Hanwha Ocean.

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Naver: CHZZK Increasing Market Share in the Korean Live Game Streaming Sector

Naver's CHZZK has been increasing its market share in the Korean live game streaming sector. This improving momentum is likely to continue to...

Douglas Kim