South Korean Finance Minister Apologizes Amid Heavy Losses in Leveraged ETFs
South Korea's Finance Minister, Koo Yun-cheol, issued an apology following significant losses incurred by retail investors in single-stock leveraged ETFs tied to major chip companies like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. These ETFs, introduced on May 27, were designed to deliver amplified daily returns but have suffered severe declines, with the KODEX SK Hynix ETF falling over 80% since its peak on June 23. The downturn in the Kospi index, driven by a sharp correction in chip stocks, has led to substantial financial losses for investors who engaged in speculative trading during the AI-driven semiconductor rally.