South Korea's retail investors, long known for risk-taking, were hit by a sharp July reversal: the KOSPI plunged 22% for its largest monthly drop since the global financial crisis, and despite an 18% rebound on Friday retail investors registered record net sales of KOSPI constituents. Under South Korea's Lee's market reforms and encouragement of single-stock leveraged ETF listings, retail poured roughly 78 trillion won (about $54.2bn) into KOSPI stocks in May–June, leaving many heavily exposed t

South Korea's retail investors, long known for risk-taking, were hit by a sharp July reversal: the KOSPI plunged 22% for its largest monthly drop since the global financial crisis, and despite an 18% rebound on Friday retail investors registered record net sales of KOSPI constituents. Under South Korea's Lee's market reforms and encouragement of single-stock leveraged ETF listings, retail poured roughly 78 trillion won (about $54.2bn) into KOSPI stocks in May–June, leaving many heavily exposed to July volatility. Social media shows widespread retail frustration directed at the government; some individual investors say they will stop investing in Korean equities.