Civil Servant Who Invested Entire 300 Million Won Wedding Fund in Samsung and SK Hynix Asked, "Are You Still Alive?"

KOSPI Plunges 12% on March 4—Record-Breaking Drop
Renewed Attention on Civil Servant Who Went All-In With 300 Million Won Wedding Fund

The United States' airstrike on Iran has heightened geopolitical risks in the Middle East, delivering a direct blow to the domestic stock market. As the KOSPI plunged for a second consecutive day, breaking records for both the largest point drop and the steepest decline in history, attention has turned once again to the recent update on a government official who previously attracted widespread interest after revealing that he had invested his entire wedding fund of 300 million won in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.

The KOSPI fell by the largest margin in history due to the outbreak of war between the United States and Iran, dropping below the 5100 mark as displayed on the KOSPI board in the dealing room of Hana Bank headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 4th. Photo by Yonhap News

Invested Entire 300 Million Won in Hopes of a Bull Market

On February 24, government official A posted online that he had split his 300 million won in cash, which he had saved for a jeonse deposit and wedding expenses, investing 150 million won each into South Korea's two leading semiconductor companies, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. The post quickly attracted attention.

A commented, "I believe my 300 million won will become 1 billion won in a year. I thought about it a lot but believe we're still at the beginning of a bull market," adding, "In this new normal era for the domestic stock market, I saw this as an opportunity to grow my assets. I hope it goes well." His decision to prioritize asset growth over immediate housing was interpreted as a bet on the improving outlook for the semiconductor industry and the expanding demand for artificial intelligence (AI).

In fact, the initial performance after his investment was positive. Both stocks continued their strong rally, hitting new intraday highs. Based on the average purchase price disclosed by A, his unrealized profit at the time was estimated to be around 28 million won. With a double-digit return in a short period, it seemed his bold move was paying off.

KOSPI Plunges 12% Amid Middle East War Shock... Largest Decline Ever

On the 3rd (local time) in Tehran, Iran. The sun is setting behind the rising smoke following military airstrikes by the United States and Israel. Photo by AP Yonhap News

However, the situation changed dramatically. Fears of a full-scale war involving Iran spread, and with discussions about a possible blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, international oil prices soared. As concerns about a resurgence of inflation and a global economic slowdown emerged simultaneously, risk assets across the board collapsed.

On March 4, the KOSPI fell by more than 12% compared to the previous trading day, dropping to just above the 5,000 mark. Both the daily point drop and percentage decline set all-time records. Over the course of two days, more than 1,100 points were erased. The so-called "fear index," which reflects market volatility, also soared.

Major semiconductor stocks were also unable to withstand the selling pressure. The combination of profit-taking after rapid gains and a growing aversion to global risk led to even steeper declines. There is speculation that A's investment, which had previously posted unrealized gains in the tens of millions of won, may have quickly shifted into loss territory.

"It's Just a Correction, I Don't Worry About Daily Moves"

After the sharp market drop, comments inquiring about A's well-being flooded his posts. One user lamented, "Are you still alive? My average purchase price is higher than yours, and all I can do is cry. After seeing your post, I got the courage to buy both Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix at Thursday's peak."

In response, A said, "Hang in there. There's still plenty of money in the market, and with the election just around the corner, the government will step in to support things." In another comment, he added, "It's just a correction. I don't worry about day-to-day moves," displaying a calm attitude.

Comments on the post by government official A. Screenshot from social media

This prompted a range of reactions from online users: "This is why you need to invest carefully," "I'm also stuck now," "I'm scared for the market to open," "Investing everything in one sector is too risky," "What will you do, it's your wedding fund," "Betting everything on highly volatile stocks isn't investing, it's gambling," "If the downturn gets any worse, it could shake your marriage from the start," "If the war drags on, who knows how far it could fall—this is serious," "The market will rise once the war ends," and "You just have to endure."

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