"This Year, Over 80% Will Be Invested in Stocks"... The Keyword Chosen by the 3 Billion Won Super-Rich

Samsung Securities Survey: 2026 Outlook for Clients with Over 3 Billion Won in Assets

South Korea's 'super-rich' have chosen 'K.O.R.E.A' as the key investment keyword for the Year of the Fire Horse in 2026. This reflects expectations that the inflow of capital into the artificial intelligence (AI)-centered stock market, which drove the KOSPI bull run last year, and the relative strength of the Korean market will continue this year.

On January 4, Samsung Securities announced the results of a recent survey on the "2026 Stock Market Outlook and Investment Plans" conducted with 401 'SNI' clients, each holding assets of at least 3 billion won. SNI is Samsung Securities' wealth management brand for ultra-high-net-worth individuals with more than 3 billion won in financial assets under custody.

On the 2nd, the opening ceremony of the securities and derivatives market in 2026 was held, and the first KOSPI of the year was displayed on the electronic board at the Korea Exchange in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

These individuals identified 'K.O.R.E.A.' as the core investment keyword for this year. The acronym stands for: preference for Korean stocks (K-stock), outperformance of the Korean and KOSDAQ markets (Outperform), rebalancing toward equity assets (Rebalancing), utilization of exchange-traded funds (ETF), and the AI-driven market (AI). A representative from Samsung Securities interpreted this as a willingness to bet on the reevaluation and growth of the domestic stock market.

Nearly half (45.9%) of the ultra-high-net-worth respondents predicted that the KOSPI would "surpass 4,500 points" by the end of 2026, with 32.1% among them expressing optimism for the dawn of the "5,000-point era."

Expectations for the KOSDAQ market were even higher, with 59.6% of respondents forecasting the KOSDAQ index would break through the 1,000-point mark, and 29.3% of them predicting it would even exceed 1,100 points.

Artificial Intelligence. (This photo is not directly related to the article.) Pixabay Pixabay

When asked about the appropriate portfolio allocation for this year, 57.9% of ultra-high-net-worth individuals responded that they would invest "more than 80% in equities." Additionally, 67.1% said they actually planned to expand their equity holdings.

AI remained the leading sector. A total of 48.1% of respondents cited continued growth in the AI industry as the most important topic for 2026. The most promising investment sectors were also AI and semiconductors (31.8%), followed by robotics (18.0%), pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and healthcare (14.8%), high-dividend stocks such as financials (12.3%), and shipbuilding, defense, and nuclear power (10.4%).

When asked to choose the four-character idiom that best describes the financial market in the new year, the most popular choice was "Jeondo Yumang" (meaning 'promising future and bright prospects'), selected by 25.2% of respondents. This was followed by "Orimujung" (meaning 'uncertainty and confusion about what will happen,' chosen by 23.2%).

Overall, while the outlook for the market this year is generally positive, there remains a degree of caution regarding market uncertainty, which is reflected in these results.