“Han Dong-hoon is adding fuel to the fire” ... Park Yong-jin buys 10 million won worth of stocks amid KOSPI rout

[Financial News] On the 6th, as South Korea’s stock market plunged, Park Yong-jin, vice chair of the Presidential Committee on Regulatory Reform, which reports directly to the president, said he had bought 10 million won worth of an exchange-traded fund (ETF) tracking the KOSPI 200 index. Park took aim at former lawmaker Yoo Seong-min and independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, saying, “It is irresponsible to take an attitude that seems to fan the flames in a burning house for political point-scoring.”

On the 6th, Park disclosed his stock trades in a post on Facebook, saying, “I bought stocks today for the first time in a while.”
According to the disclosed transaction details, Park bought 128 shares of the Samsung KODEX 200 ETF at 78,330 won per share at 10:49 a.m. that day. The total purchase amount was 10,026,240 won.
He said, “Although the market is experiencing major turbulence, I believe in the resilience of our economy and have confidence in the future of our market,” adding, “I believe the government, too, will do its utmost to maintain confidence in our market.”
In another post that day, Park explained why he had disclosed his stock purchase, saying, “It was because, amid widespread public anxiety and concern, some opposition politicians seemed more intent on attacking the Lee Jae-myung administration and the Democratic Party than on worrying about market stability.”

He said, “I think it is irresponsible to stoke public anxiety and fan the flames in a burning house for political point-scoring,” adding, “In that respect, the remarks by former lawmaker Yoo Seong-min and former leader Han Dong-hoon are deeply disappointing.”
Earlier that day, Yoo criticized President Lee Jae Myung and government officials in a post on Facebook, asking, “Why are you keeping quiet today, when the KOSPI has fallen below 5,000?” Lawmaker Han also took issue with the National Pension Service increasing its allocation to domestic stocks, saying, “A figure that is hit but not maintained is worse than one never reached.”
Park said, “I do not take today’s stock market decline lightly. I know very well how great investors’ concerns and anxieties must be.” He added, “I thought that, especially at times like this, it was important to trust our companies and maintain confidence in the economy and the market. Rather than just saying I believe, I wanted to show that belief, even through a small action.”
He went on to emphasize, “I believe in the strength of the South Korean economy. I believe the Lee Jae-myung administration will fulfill its responsibilities to maintain confidence in the market,” adding, “I, too, will continue to do everything I can from my position, for the lives of the people and our economy, until the very end.”
This is not the first time Park has made public a stock purchase. In October 2024, when Samsung Electronics shares fell into the 50,000-won range, he also announced his first-ever stock purchase, saying, “I bought Samsung Electronics stock. Its shares have been falling recently, and I bought some. It was my first stock purchase ever.” He added, “When everyone is talking about Samsung’s crisis and criticizing Samsung Electronics, I want instead to show my confidence in and support for Samsung.”
[email protected] Kim Su-yeon Reporter