WSJ Tech News Briefing · Friday, August 28, 2026
South Korea's stock market, once one of the world's hottest, has become highly volatile, earning the nickname 'Roller Kospi.' This volatility is linked to the AI trade and the influence of individual investors, termed 'ants,' who have been collectively investing, often with borrowed money.
“The success of SK Hynix and Samsung has helped make South Korea's stock market one of the world's hottest in recent years, but also one of the most volatile.”
“But this summer, the ride took a stomach-churning turn. AI stocks lost their footing as investors began to question whether enthusiasm pushed their stocks too far, too fast.”
“It means they're weak individually, but capable of collective power, just like an ant colony.”