"I Put Everything Into Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix and Lost 3 Billion Won"... Debate Over Whether the '80% Loss' Leverage Post Is Real

[Financial News] As trading in related products has plunged after the financial authorities tightened regulations on single-stock leverage products, concern in the market is growing after a post on an online community claimed massive losses.

In particular, concern has deepened after one investor, who had concentrated heavily on major semiconductor stocks such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, was said to have suffered losses of more than 3 billion won in just two months, raising awareness of the risks of high-risk products.
According to News 1 on the 5th, a post titled "The End of Going All In on Single-Stock Leverage (Identity Verified)" appeared on an online community on the 3rd. The author, identified as A, disclosed screenshots of his securities account and stressed, "I am showing every detail of the maximum loss from the peak to the bottom," adding, "This is my actual account, and it has absolutely not been manipulated."
According to the account screenshots A shared, total returns over roughly two months, from the end of June to July 30, amounted to minus 3,031,317,550 won. The simple return rate was below minus 80%. The initial assets exceeded 3.63 billion won, but current holdings have fallen to around 600 million won, meaning most of the principal has been lost.
A said of his investments, "I went all in on single-stock leverage (Hynix + Electronics), and 500 million won in margin on Samsung Electronics preferred shares." He appears to have poured most of his assets into high-risk leverage products that track a single stock's daily return by roughly two times, while also using margin trading to maximize leverage.
He said, "I made money with excitement, and I got wiped out with excitement too," adding, "I hope people can look at my account and take comfort in thinking, 'So there are people like this too.'" He also noted that conditions improved somewhat after the stock market rebounded on July 31, but said the situation remained desperate.
However, the authenticity of the account screenshots A posted and the claim of a 3 billion won loss has not yet been objectively verified. Given the nature of online communities, the possibility of manipulation cannot be ruled out, and it is difficult to confirm the exact investment details or the scale of the losses.

This case has drawn even more attention because it coincides with the recent tightening of regulations on single-stock leverage products by the financial authorities. To curb speculation in leverage products and protect investors, the authorities raised the base deposit requirement from 10 million won to 30 million won starting on the 31st of last month.
Trading in related products has in fact plunged since the rule took effect. Trading value in single-stock leverage and inverse products linked to Samsung Electronics and SK hynix fell by about 89% from before the measure, showing a rapid cooling in the market.
Experts warn that single-stock leverage products are high-risk, high-return instruments and can cause devastating losses if investors get the direction wrong. They also emphasize that because their value can fluctuate far more than the underlying asset's price movements, extra caution is needed.
A securities industry official said, "Leverage products are suitable for short-term investing, and losses can widen if they are held for a long time because of compounding effects," adding, "Investors should fully understand the risks and make careful decisions based on accurate information."
The financial authorities also plan to strengthen investor education and continue cracking down on illegal activity alongside the tighter rules. The article notes that it is more important than ever for investors themselves to stay alert to risks and help foster a healthy investment culture.
[email protected] Moon Young-jin Reporter