1. Semiconductors

The dominance of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix on the Korean stockmarket showed signs of easing in August. As of 7th August, the two chipmakers accounted for 48.95% of the KOSPI's total market capitalisation, down roughly ten percentage points from a peak of 58.9% on 25th June. While the KOSPI rose 11.89% between 31st July and 7th August, both Samsung (up 11.59%) and SK Hynix (up 7.56%) lagged the index. Non-semiconductor sectors led the advance, with construction surging 29.64% and machinery and equipment up 23.38%, signalling a clear rotation into previously overlooked parts of the market.

2. Internet

Naver reported on 7th August that revenue and support payments to blog creators have roughly doubled since the company introduced its AI-powered news briefing service, compared with levels recorded before its launch in February 2025. Payouts through AdPost, Naver's creator monetisation platform, rose approximately 14% over the same period, suggesting that the shift towards AI-driven search is enlarging rather than shrinking the content-creator ecosystem. Naver's share price edged up to 216,750 won on 13th August.

3. Renewable Energy and Batteries

SK On announced on 9th August that it would convert part of its electric-vehicle (EV) battery production line at its Georgia factory in the United States to manufacture lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for energy storage systems (ESS). The move is designed to lift utilisation rates — depressed by weakening EV demand — without committing to costly new capacity. SK On had previously secured a 1GWh ESS supply agreement with American firm Flatiron and has also obtained preferential negotiating rights for additional projects totalling 6.2GWh by 2030. The rebalancing contributed to a return to profitability: SK On posted second-quarter revenue of 2.946 trillion won and operating profit of 821.8 billion won, its first quarterly surplus in seven quarters.

4. Power Equipment

HD Hyundai Electric announced on 7th August that it had shipped its 1,000th power transformer from its factory in Montgomery, Alabama. The unit — a 500kV, 675MVA ultra-high-voltage transformer — was delivered to a Georgia transmission company for use in the electricity grid of Walton County, Florida. The company has invested an additional $200m at the Montgomery plant to expand annual production capacity from 70 to 105 units, making it the largest single power-transformer manufacturing facility in the United States.

5. Shipbuilding

Hanwha Ocean is reported to be pursuing the acquisition of Austal USA, following its earlier purchase of Philly Shipyard, in a concerted push to break into the US Navy and nuclear-submarine market. The company is said to have made an offer of between $1.05bn and $1.2bn for Austal USA. Meanwhile, the assets of Philly Shipyard stood at 1.057 trillion won at the end of June — 3.2 times the 327.4 billion won recorded when the acquisition was completed in December 2024.

6. Defence

Aerospace and defence stocks joined the broader market rotation on 7th August. Spear surged 14.96%, while LIG Nex1 gained 5.56% and Hanwha Aerospace rose 4.08% to close at 1,097,000 won.

7. Nuclear Power

South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission signed a memorandum of understanding on 13th August to support the overseas expansion of Korean-designed nuclear reactors. The agreement focuses on helping prospective buyer countries — including Vietnam, the Philippines and the Czech Republic — build robust nuclear safety regulatory frameworks. On the same day, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), the Nuclear Power Export Industry Association, the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety and the Korea Institute of Nuclear Nonproliferation and Control signed a separate, complementary agreement.

8. K-Pop

Stray Kids, signed to JYP Entertainment, released their new album *THIS & THAT* on 7th August. The group's first full-scale activity of the year marks a return after approximately nine months.

9. Retail

Homeplus, the hypermarket chain that had temporarily suspended operations owing to financial difficulties, formally reopened all 67 of its nationwide stores on 13th August. Online delivery services resumed at 59 of those locations, accompanied by promotions including discounts of up to 50% on Korean beef for loyalty-card members. The timing proved awkward: the reopening coincided directly with rival promotional campaigns, including the second phase of E-Mart's "Gorae-it Festa" (14th–17th August) and Lotte Mart's "Tong Keun Day" (13th–17th August). Shinhan Investment Securities estimated that if 30% of Homeplus's former sales migrate permanently to competitors, E-Mart and Lotte Shopping could together see revenues increase by as much as 1.5 trillion won.

10. Hotels

Lotte Hotel is set to unveil its new high-end brand, "The Grand Lotte Seoul," on 14th August, following the completion of a room renovation at its flagship property in Sogong-dong, central Seoul. The refurbishment of the main tower is the first in 18 years — since 2007–09 — and represents Lotte's first new luxury label since the launch of Signiel in 2017. The brand draws on reinterpreted traditional Korean knotting techniques for its monogram and emphasises Korean aesthetics throughout, as the group bids to compete at the very top of the luxury hotel market.