Lee Jae-myung: "I also suffered losses from gifts and options... Investor education is essential"

Need to Expand Systematic Financial Education
Investment Opportunities in Early-Stage Unlisted Companies Should Be Expanded to the Public

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate (fourth from the left), is attending the "Meeting for the Development of the Stock Market and Protection of Individual Investors" held at the Korea Exchange in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the 4th, waiting for his turn to speak.

[Asia Economy Reporter Minwoo Lee] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, emphasized the urgent need for financial education for novice investors, stating that he himself had experienced difficulties in stock investment in the past.

On the afternoon of the 4th, Lee attended a 'Meeting for the Development of the Stock Market and Protection of Individual Investors' held at the Korea Exchange in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, where he stressed this point. He said, "In the past, I was quite a large ant investor (individual investor) and suffered many losses trading not only stocks but also futures and options products," adding, "Since stocks are high-risk, high-return investments, safety measures are needed for novice investors who participate with enthusiasm but lack financial knowledge, and the core of that is financial education." Futures and options are derivative financial products with higher risk and return than stocks, which can incur losses exceeding the principal.

Lee said, "The number of participants jumping into stock investment is increasing exponentially, but since the market is not always favorable, we need to prepare for such situations through financial education," and added, "Moreover, it is the government's role to create a belief and conviction that market manipulators cannot profit by breaking the rules, and that those who cause losses to small investors by violating rules cannot survive."

Currently, financial education is conducted by private financial institutions or some government departments, but it remains at a formal level. Therefore, in the long term, it is necessary to make financial education mandatory in public education and expand comprehensive financial education on economics and investment according to life cycles.

He also emphasized the need to lower the entry barriers for early-stage investments prior to KOSPI and KOSDAQ. Lee said, "In Korea, there are KOSPI, KOSDAQ, and over-the-counter markets, but investments at earlier stages are conducted in very specialized areas through word of mouth," adding, "The entry barriers are very high, and bureaucracy has intervened, causing corruption, so we must guarantee opportunities for our citizens to participate in this area as well."

He continued, "I hope the market, in its true sense, where entry barriers are lowered, responsible investments are made, and mistakes are strictly punished, will function properly," and added, "Especially for startups and venture companies, there are not many ways to raise funds, so sharing these opportunities is essential and helpful for market growth and corporate growth."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.