[Weekly Korean Stock Round-up] The Answer Lies in Core Value Stocks and Future Trends

Meet at 12: A Record of a Week that Turned Crisis into Opportunity

What was the force that firmly defended South Korea's stock market even amidst the terrifying selling bomb by foreign investors? Watching the great flow of the global infrastructure market and Korea's leading companies that shined even brighter in times of crisis, it was a week where we realized once again that the ultimate answer lies in physically strong 'core value stocks' and 'future trends.' We have gathered only the key points you must know to keep your balance in a chaotic market and explain them in an easy-to-understand manner.

---

📊 Summary of Major Domestic & International Stock Markets

We summarize the movement of the domestic and international markets over the week, showing the weekly return from Monday's opening price to Friday's closing price at a glance.

• Data Collection Time: May 8, 2026 (Fri) 16:00 KST (Korea Exchange Close)
• International Indices Standard: As of May 7, 2026 (Thu) close of the New York Stock Exchange

Market & Index	Monday Open (5/4)	Friday Close (5/8)	Weekly Change (Change %)	Market Watch Point
KOSPI	7,412.00	7,498.00	▲ 86.00 (+1.16%)	Despite a record-breaking sell-off of 6.1 trillion KRW by foreign investors, aggressive buying by retail and institutional investors defended the market, hitting an all-time high closing price.
KOSDAQ	1,190.20	1,207.72	▲ 17.52 (+1.47%)	Although slightly sluggish at the beginning of the week, it succeeded in making a strong rebound later in the week, successfully settling above the 1,200 line.
S&P 500	7,381.11	7,337.11	▼ 44.00 (-0.60%)	Amid deepening geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran and strong international oil prices, profit-taking emerged after mid-week, undergoing a slight downward correction.
NASDAQ	25,910.30	25,806.20	▼ 104.10 (-0.40%)	A breathing spell played out centered on tech stocks due to high-point burdens and the Fed's re-evaluation of its interest rate path.

💡 Weekly Market Review:

This week stood out with the 'decoupling' of South Korea's and US stock markets. While US stock markets took a brief breather due to geopolitical risks and unstable oil prices, the domestic market recorded a pleasant weekly rise on both the KOSPI and KOSDAQ, powered by Hyundai Motor Group positive news and the Physical AI theme.

---

🎬 May 4 ~ May 8 Key Broadcast Highlights

A clean summary of the main issues mentioned in this week's broadcast.

1. The Rise of Physical AI and Robotics

As the potential US IPO of Boston Dynamics, acquired by Hyundai Motor Group, materialized, interest in the robotics market and "Physical AI"—AI with a physical body that moves beyond software-centric AI—reached its peak. This acted as a powerful upward driver for Hyundai Motor Group shares.

• Key Technical Principles of Physical AI:
  • Multimodal Sensor Fusion (Perception): Real-time fusion of LiDAR, high-precision 3D cameras, tactile, and pressure sensors to map physical spaces.
  • Edge Computing & AI Foundation Models (Edge AI): Real-time onboard processing using advanced chips (like Vision-Language-Action models) to make sub-millisecond decisions without cloud latency.
  • Precision Actuation (Actuation): Advanced motors, high-capacity batteries, and hardware controlling over 50 degrees of freedom to mimic human joint movements smoothly.
• Industries Driven by Physical AI:
  • Smart Manufacturing & Mobility: Smart factories and autonomous manufacturing infrastructure where robots work alongside human workers without safety fences (e.g., Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant).
  • Intelligent Logistics & Warehouse Automation: Autonomous logistics systems recognizing and sorting non-standard packages in large fulfillment centers.
  • Professional Services & Disaster Relief: Unmanned ground vehicles and robotic dogs for dangerous environment inspection, structural defect detection, and defense missions.

2. Global Power Infrastructure and AI Data Center Acceleration

As AI computing power advances, its immense power consumption has come under scrutiny. Consequently, order backlogs for power infrastructure (transmission, distribution, ultra-high voltage transformers) essential for building AI data centers have exploded, emerging as a leading market theme.

3. Geopolitical Risks and Oil Price Volatility

Rising tensions between the US and Iran and risks surrounding control of the Strait of Hormuz have kept international oil prices high. This acted as a headwind temporarily slowing global stock market momentum, while bolstering gold prices as safe-haven demand rose.

---

📖 Essential Economic Terms Masterclass

① Physical AI

• Basic Concept: Unlike software AI that generates text or images within virtual spaces (e.g., ChatGPT), Physical AI refers to AI that directly perceives the physical world and executes physical labor or tasks.
• Simple Explanation: Think of it as a highly intelligent brain (software AI) combined with a precise and robust body (robots, autonomous vehicles, drones). Examples include logistics robots navigating obstacles or Boston Dynamics' robotic dogs inspecting hazardous areas.
• Market Highlight: Going beyond traditional repetitive industrial robots, Physical AI is a game-changing technology capable of delicate, human-like tasks in manufacturing, logistics, and household services.

② Sector Rotation (순환매)

• Basic Concept: When the stock market rises or moves sideways, capital doesn't stay in just one sector; instead, it shifts sequentially from one industry to another, causing different sectors to take turns rising.
• Simple Explanation: It is like a relay race. First, semiconductor stocks run hard to lead the market, and when they tire out, automotive stocks take the baton, followed by power infrastructure or bio-health stocks, sustaining the overall market momentum.
• Market Highlight: This pattern is common when the total pool of market capital is limited. Predicting and positioning in the next sector to receive the baton is a smart investment strategy.

③ IPO (Initial Public Offering / 상장)

• Basic Concept: The process by which a privately held company opens its shares to the general public and lists on a public exchange (like KOSPI or KOSDAQ) through strict legal steps and screening.
• Simple Explanation: A famous neighborhood bakery (private company) decides to expand nationwide and debuts on the stock market, allowing any passerby to buy shares and become a co-owner of the bakery.
• Market Highlight: Companies raise large-scale capital transparently for growth, while investors gain a secure, regulated marketplace to trade shares freely.

④ Circuit Breaker

• Basic Concept: A regulatory mechanism that temporarily halts all stock trading to ease market panic and give investors time to process information when the market experiences extreme, sudden volatility.
• Simple Explanation: It functions exactly like a safety circuit breaker (fuse box) in a house that automatically shuts off the electricity when there is an electrical overload to prevent damage or fire.
• Market Highlight: It triggers mechanically at specific percentage drops (e.g., 8%, 15%, 20% compared to the previous close), halting trade for about 20 minutes before resuming with a 10-minute single-price auction. It prevents panic selling.

⑤ Institutional & Foreign Net Buying / Net Selling

• Basic Concept:
  • Net Buying: When a specific group of investors buys more value of shares than they sell over a certain period.
  • Net Selling: Conversely, when the value of shares sold exceeds the value of shares purchased.
• Simple Explanation: If foreign investors buy $10 million worth of a stock today and sell $3 million, their "Net Buying" for that stock is $7 million.
• Market Highlight: Institutions and foreign investors possess superior information and massive capital. Tracking their net buying and selling trends is crucial for forecasting stock direction.

---

🔗 Video & Script Sources

• Analysis Source: Official broadcast script and daily closing briefing video of "Meet at 12", sharpening your edge on stock market trends every noon.
• Indices & Figures Source: Official daily closing statistics from the Korea Exchange (KRX) and real-time global financial data from Investing.com.