Even 'Battery Ajussi' Couldn't Escape the Bear Market: 'Profit of 160 Million Won Evaporated'

Former Kumyang PR Director Park Sun-hyeok Discloses Partial Stock Holdings
160 Million KRW Profit Vanished Compared to July
Recently Involved in 'Concurrent Position Controversy', Under FSC Investigation

The stock valuation of Park Soon-hyuk, former PR director of Geumyang, known as the "Battery Uncle" (Batteri Ajeossi), has decreased by about 160 million KRW in just over a month. On the 14th, Park revealed part of his stock holdings during a secondary battery investment briefing held at the headquarters of Hana Securities in Yeouido, Seoul.

Former Kumyang PR Director Park Sun-hyuk [Image source=Publisher Ziwin]

The disclosed stock account balance on that day was 670.2 million KRW, consisting of three stocks: Ecopro, POSCO Holdings, and LG Chem Preferred. Ecopro recorded an unrealized gain of 218.92 million KRW (return rate 431.09%), POSCO Holdings showed a gain of 32.17 million KRW (return rate 62.55%). However, LG Chem Preferred incurred a loss of 8.74 million KRW (return rate -19.25%). The total unrealized gain amounted to 219.22 million KRW.

Previously, Park had disclosed his investment status in the same stocks via YouTube in July. At that time, the unrealized gain was 385.61 million KRW. In about a month, his balance decreased by 166.41 million KRW. The recent downturn in the secondary battery market has also impacted Park's holdings. Ecopro, once a leading stock that surpassed 1.5 million KRW, fell below the 1 million KRW mark as of the closing price on the 14th.

Meanwhile, Park has recently been embroiled in a "concurrent employment controversy." Since the second quarter of last year, he has served as the full-time head of investment operations at Nextera Investment Discretionary, overlapping with his tenure as PR director at Geumyang. Park resigned from Geumyang in May. Some argue that recommending secondary battery stocks while working at an investment firm is problematic. The Financial Supervisory Service is investigating potential violations of the Capital Markets Act and the Act on the Protection of Financial Consumers. Park explained, "I had a corporate presentation agency contract with Geumyang," and added, "After legal consultation, it was confirmed that there was no issue."