South Korean investors pour millions into Chinese AI stocks

Despite a hot domestic market, South Korean investors have increased purchases on Hong Kong and mainland exchanges this year. Data shows they bought US$507 million in Hong Kong-listed shares and US$154 million in mainland-listed shares, focusing heavily on AI and semiconductor names.

Data from SEIBro, a portal operated by the Korea Securities Depository, shows that South Korean retail investors bought US$507 million worth of Hong Kong-listed shares and US$154 million of mainland-listed shares between January 2 and Monday. This year's buying has been heavily concentrated in AI and semiconductor names.

On mainland exchanges, semiconductor equipment maker Naura Technology was the top pick, drawing US$3.5 million in net buying. “I’m betting shares in this Chinese version of OpenAI will skyrocket,” said Roy Lee, a South Korean retail investor who recently bought MiniMax and holds more than 20 technology stocks globally.

Keywords mentioned include Gary Ng, DeepSeek, Montage Technology, CSOP Asset Management, MiniMax, SK Hynix, Samsung Electronics, Hong Kong, Natixis, Korea Securities Depository, Roy Lee, Kospi, Goldman Sachs, OpenAI, and Naura Technology. Despite a sizzling home market, investors are seeking opportunities in Chinese tech stocks.

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Seoul stock traders celebrate KOSPI record high on tech and auto gains before slight pullback, with exchange screens and city skyline.
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Seoul stocks open sharply higher on tech, auto gains but trim later

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South Korean stocks opened over 1 percent higher on Monday, tracking Wall Street gains, as investors bought technology and automobile shares, but pared gains later in the morning due to profit-taking by foreigners and institutions. The KOSPI surged to a record 5,900.75 in early trading but stood at 5,835.77 by 11:20 a.m. The rally is fueled by optimism over artificial intelligence and strength in chipmakers.

South Korean stocks closed slightly higher on January 30, extending their winning streak to four sessions and hitting a new record high as investors bought artificial intelligence shares despite bubble concerns. The advance was capped by U.S. President Donald Trump's vow to impose higher tariffs on South Korea. The Korean won fell 13.2 won to 1,439.5 against the U.S. dollar.

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New share listings by Chinese technology firms in Hong Kong have delivered above-average returns on their debuts so far in 2026, as investors bet on Beijing’s push for technology self-reliance amid a challenging macro environment. The outperformance underlines that the tech self-reliance trade is extending its momentum into 2026, the first year of China’s latest five-year development plan, which emphasises artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies.

Seoul shares opened higher on Tuesday, propelled by Samsung Electronics' record first-quarter earnings. The benchmark KOSPI rose 2.47 percent to 5,584.76 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Strong demand for AI-related chips drove the profit surge.

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Foreign ownership of South Korean stocks hit 37.18% of total market capitalization in January, the highest in nearly six years. This surge was driven by net purchases in the shipbuilding, defense, and nuclear power sectors. Data from the Korea Exchange shows it as the peak since April 2020.

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