Frank Benzimra, head of Asia equity strategy at Societe Generale, argues that South Korea's artificial intelligence-driven stock market rally should extend beyond leading chipmakers like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to ensure more sustainable growth. Currently, these two firms account for over 48% of the Kospi's market capitalization and two-thirds of the index's first-half profits. Benzimra notes that while AI investments have boosted semiconductor producers, their benefits have not yet significantly impacted wages, consumption, or other industries. He warns that the market's heavy reliance on chipmakers has led to extreme volatility, with the Kospi dropping over 40% in less than a month. Benzimra suggests addressing market concentration and leveraging long-term supply agreements could improve stability, but acknowledges Korea's continued vulnerability to global economic cycles.
Bias read (Center): The article presents an analysis of South Korea's financial market dynamics without overtly favoring any political ideology. It discusses economic trends, market concentration, and potential reforms without taking a clear stance on specific policies or political parties. The framing focuses on data,




