KOSPI 10,000 Era Survival Strategy: Buy the Leading Stocks

"The answer is clear. Buy the leading stocks, especially the leading players." This is the survival strategy proposed by Hana Securities amid growing expectations that the KOSPI index will soon enter the 10,000 era.

On the 19th, Doo-Eon Kim, a researcher at Hana Securities, stated in the report titled "KOSPI 10,000 Point Era Survival Strategy: Buy the Leading Players" that "the survival strategy for the KOSPI 10,000 point era is not about defense, but about preemption."

On the 15th, when the KOSPI index surpassed the 8,000 mark intraday for the first time in history, employees at the Hana Bank dealing room in Jung-gu, Seoul celebrated the KOSPI 8,000 breakthrough. 2026.5.15 Photo by Kang Jinhyung

First, Kim assessed that achieving the 10,000-point milestone for the KOSPI is no longer just an abstract slogan. He explained, "In the era of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, Korea's memory semiconductor business is more than just infrastructure—it is a strategic security asset directly tied to the survival of the nation and the industry." He projected that "the combined operating profit of leading stocks Samsung Electronics and SK hynix will increase in proportion to time, making a cumulative 1,000 trillion won no longer just a dream."

In particular, Kim analyzed that Korea stands at the intersection as the market is simultaneously reassessing alliances, the Middle East, and the semiconductor cycle. He stated, "Manufacturing capability, supply chain responsiveness, and recovery capability have become the new language of alliances," emphasizing that "this change could serve as a catalyst for a structural reevaluation of the Korean market."

Specifically, he pointed out that both the quantity and quality of exports—centered around semiconductors and shipbuilding—are simultaneously changing, interpreting this not as a simple economic recovery but as a strategic reevaluation of the value of Korean manufacturing.

He also noted that the Middle East, long perceived as an energy supply base, is being reevaluated. He explained that nuclear power plants, power grids, transformers, cables, and LNG are shifting from being seen as merely industrial goods to security assets. Kim added, "AI consumes electricity, power grids become bottlenecks, and Korean electrical equipment is being reevaluated as an export-leading sector."

Furthermore, he stated, "The AI phase is different from previous cycles," and emphasized, "Corporations, countries, and individuals all have no choice but to increase AI spending to avoid falling behind. The data already reflects this change." According to Hana Securities, last year, the capital expenditure of the five major tech companies on data centers surpassed 400 billion dollars, and is expected to increase by an additional 75% this year. Data center power consumption is forecasted to nearly double from 485 TWh in 2025 to 950 TWh in 2030, while AI-dedicated data center power consumption is expected to triple over the same period.

Kim analyzed, "When everyone is looking for the end of the cycle, the market should be watching the structure beyond the cycle," and added, "Investment in AI is likely to continue spreading until a clear winner emerges."

Accordingly, Kim stated, "The investment strategy is clear: secure a lead in industries with reconstruction and recovery capabilities. Defense, shipbuilding, construction equipment, electrical equipment, and infrastructure companies fall into this category." He went on to say, "It is necessary to focus on the beneficiaries of the reshuffling of the energy supply chain," predicting that "the strategic value of companies related to nuclear power, power grids, LNG, oil refining and chemicals, and alternative energy may increase." Finally, he added, "The AI cycle should not be interpreted solely as a traditional semiconductor cycle. HBM, server memory, packaging, power infrastructure, and the data center value chain are areas of long-term structural growth."

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