Staring at Stock Charts Causes 'Hwabyeong'... "What Have I Even Been Doing?" FOMO Spreads Amid Soaring KOSPI

Heightened Sense of Relative Deprivation Amid Short-Term Market Surge

"KOSPI's Sharp Rally Fuels Widespread FOMO: 'Am I the Only One Being Left Behind?'"

Gary, a singer formerly of the group Leessang, expressed bittersweet feelings while watching the KOSPI index, which has been setting new all-time highs day after day.

On May 13, Gary posted on his social networking service (SNS), "What have I even been doing during all this. FOMOs," along with a photo. The picture showed the current KOSPI index for that day. Gary's brief SNS post goes beyond a simple expression of regret; it concisely reflects the complex emotions many investors are currently experiencing. While the stock market's record-breaking highs have sparked excitement for some, they have also left others with a sense of anxiety, making them feel like they are the only ones being left behind.

Gary, a singer formerly of the group Leessang, expressed bittersweet feelings while watching the KOSPI index, which has been setting new all-time highs day after day. Gary Instagram

FOMO, short for 'Fear Of Missing Out,' refers to the anxiety that one is missing an opportunity or falling behind the trend. As the stock market has recently surged in a short period, the sentiment among investors that "maybe I'm the only one not making money" is spreading rapidly. Amidst this, there are even concerns about so-called "debt investment," with some people taking out loans to jump into the rally at a late stage.

'Stock FOMO' Spreads in the Entertainment Industry

Cases of both success and failure in stock investments among celebrities are once again drawing attention. One of the most prominent success stories is that of actress Jeon Wonju. She reportedly purchased SK hynix shares at around 20,000 won per share in early 2011 and held onto them for a long period. While the exact number of shares she owns was not disclosed, SK hynix closed at 1,976,000 won on that day, meaning she is estimated to have made about a 90-fold return on her investment.

In the same market, some achieve significant profits while others experience losses, further fueling investors' fear of missing out (FOMO). Especially on social media and online communities, posts verifying profits, sharing account details, and recommending stocks are rapidly spreading. The Asia Business Daily

However, not all celebrities have benefited from the bull market. TV personality Jang Sungkyu recently shared on social media, "I bought Samsung Electronics at 80,000 won and sold it at 60,000 won," revealing that his investment ended with a loss cut. TV personality Lee Kyungshil also confessed on YouTube, "I bought Samsung Electronics at 70,000 won, but it dropped so much that when it returned to my original purchase price, I sold it. Now, I don't even want to look at it."

In the same market, some achieve significant profits while others experience losses, further fueling investors' fear of missing out (FOMO). Especially on social media and online communities, posts verifying profits, sharing account details, and recommending stocks are rapidly spreading. The problem is that such information can trigger emotional FOMO-driven buying, rather than rational investment decisions. During a bull market, others' gains seem larger, while during a downturn, one's own losses feel more significant.

Relative Deprivation Among Youth Deepens Amid Asset Decline... Beware of Sleep and Anxiety Disorders

Experts note that FOMO syndrome is particularly pronounced among people in their 20s and 30s. This is due to the slower pace of wealth accumulation compared to older generations and growing feelings of relative deprivation as they witness soaring prices of key assets like real estate and stocks. In fact, according to the 2025 Household Financial Welfare Survey, the average assets of households headed by those aged 39 or younger were 314.98 million won, down 0.3% from the previous year, and their net assets were 219.5 million won, a decrease of 0.9%. Meanwhile, the average assets of all households continued to rise.

Experts point out that FOMO is not just a passing buzzword. If FOMO becomes severe, people may buy at the peak without sufficient analysis or take on excessive levels of margin or loan-based investment. When losses occur, this can lead to increased anxiety and self-blame, affecting everyday life. Research has found that fluctuations in the stock market can impact mental health.

According to a study published in the Journal of Finance, a leading journal in financial economics, an analysis of hospital admission records in California from 1983 to 2011 found a correlation between stock market declines and hospitalizations related to anxiety, panic disorder, and other psychological stress. Not only can investment losses themselves cause distress, but anxiety over potentially diminished future consumption ability can also lead to psychological suffering.

The medical community warns that prolonged anxiety caused by FOMO can develop into sleep disorders, loss of appetite, trouble concentrating, and feelings of depression. In particular, if one checks investment results dozens of times a day or becomes excessively swayed by market fluctuations, stress can become chronic. In Korean society, long-term stress can sometimes manifest as physical symptoms, known as "Hwabyeong."

Therefore, experts advise that during a bull market, it is more important than ever to establish clear investment principles. Rather than focusing on stories of others' profits, people should first consider their own income, debt, investment time frame, and acceptable loss limits. Instead of obsessing over short-term returns, setting rules in advance for diversification, cash holdings, and stop-loss criteria is recommended as a way to avoid being swayed by FOMO.

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