"A 1.5 Billion Won Stock Portfolio, Down to 200 Million... Leverage Is a Road to Ruin": The Final Post Left by a Stock Forum User

[Financial News] The stock market, which had seemed as if it would keep rising, has plunged without mercy, and the complaints of individual investors are growing louder.
Recently, news spread on an online community that an active investor identified as A had passed away, and the final post he left behind has belatedly drawn attention. A month earlier, he had posted that he was quitting stock investing and warned about the risks of "leverage investing."

On the 16th of last month, A posted on the Korean stock gallery of FMKorea, an online community, under the title, "Leaving the stock gallery I started during COVID-19."
Describing himself as "an old bachelor living in the countryside, with only a little hair left and no girlfriend," A said he had reached his target of 1.5 billion to 2 billion won in investment assets in May.
But the joy of becoming wealthy did not last long. A said, "Once I was holding a large sum of money, I was overwhelmed by a deep sense of emptiness," and added, "The feeling that I had been left alone without anyone to share life with worsened my existing depression."
Unable to shake off the frustration, A eventually turned to margin trading, borrowing money from a securities firm to buy stocks.
The excessive use of leverage led to ruin. Repeated emotional trading to cover losses caused him to lose most of the retirement savings he had accumulated over his lifetime, leaving him with only about 200 million won in cash.
A said, "That was when I finally came to my senses," and added, "I realized this was no longer about growing assets but about survival, that I had entered the realm of ruin, and I decided to quit stocks without any lingering attachment." He left fellow investors two messages.
One was a warning about the dangers of leverage trading, including margin trading.
A cautioned other investors that the moment you start margin trading, you "fall into the swamp of impulsive trading" and end up losing both your assets and your reason.

The other message was that money is not everything in life.
A said, "I thought having money alone would make me happy, but without someone to share my heart with or the small warmth of everyday life, even a lot of money was nothing more than an empty number." He added, "Do not neglect your own heart and the precious values around you while chasing money."
He concluded the post by saying, "I am glad I was able to stop before things got even worse," and, "I am off to live real life now."
Many netizens left messages of support, saying things like, "I recognize your ID because I see it often. Stay strong. Let's definitely meet again here," and "I support you. Let's meet again in good health when the rain stops."

As the stock market downturn continued this month, posts encouraging investors and helping them stay mentally strong have been appearing one after another on online communities.
In the early hours of the 14th, a post titled, "I have been investing in stocks for 10 years, so stay strong and do not let your mind waver," drew attention.
The writer, identified as B, said, "This market is one that even long-time investors and experts cannot predict," and comforted others by saying, "You are not the only one who has lost money."
He then advised, "Do not try to catch falling stocks at the limit down or use leverage to make up for losses. Keep building cash as much as possible, set your entry points, and reduce losses by selling in stages whenever prices rise a little."
He went on to encourage fellow investors, saying, "In the stock market, the survivors are the winners," and, "You still have 60 to 70 years ahead of you, so do not have dark thoughts."

sms@fnnews.com Sung Min-seo Reporter