[Edaily Reporter Park Jung-Soo ] The “patriotic investment” craze that began on HansungEnterprise(003680)is spreading across the stock market. This comes as a movement has emerged to buy and support the stocks of domestic companies that are nearing the market capitalization threshold required to maintain their listing status, following the tightening of listing requirements.

According to the financial investment industry on the 19th, online investment communities have recently seen a series of posts verifying stock purchases aimed at helping domestic companies whose listings are at risk.
The spark was ignited by HansungEnterprise, a manufacturer of “Cremi.” As financial authorities tightened listing maintenance requirements this month—raising the market capitalization thresholds to 30 billion won for the KOSPI and 20 billion won for the KOSDAQ—HansungEnterprise’s market capitalization temporarily fell below 30 billion won, raising concerns about delisting.
Amid this situation, renewed attention was drawn to the fact that HansungEnterprise has sponsored a concert for UN war veterans for the 25th consecutive year. A sentiment of “Let’s save this patriotic company” took hold among individual investors, leading to a wave of posts showing proof of stock purchases and purchases of products from the company’s online store.
As this so-called “solidarity investment” continued, HansungEnterprise’s stock price began rising on the 6th, surging by over 240% from 4,230 won to 14,520 won in just eight trading days. Its market capitalization also jumped from around 30 billion won to the 90 billion won range. HansungEnterprise expressed its gratitude on its website, stating, “We are grateful for the tremendous interest and support.”
This sentiment has spread to other listed companies as well. Monami(005360)is a company that gained attention in 2019 as a leading domestic brand offering alternatives to Japanese stationery products during Japan’s export restrictions on semiconductor materials. Recently, riding the wave of patriotic investing, its stock price has surged by over 180%.
Enex(011090), a furniture manufacturer, saw a surge in buying interest from individual investors after it became known that the company had consistently donated student furniture, beds, and storage units to childcare facilities and welfare organizations; its stock price hit the daily price limit for four consecutive days. Enex also recently posted a message of gratitude to its shareholders on its website, stating, “We are deeply grateful for your warm interest and support.”
VIVIEN CORPORATION(002070) Similarly, driven by an investment sentiment of supporting domestic brands, the stock hit the daily price limit for three consecutive days. A common trait among these companies is that their market capitalizations have recently fluctuated around the threshold required to maintain their listing status. Market analysts suggest that a new investment culture is emerging, in which retail investors are moving beyond simple thematic trading to consider both a company’s ability to maintain its listing and the enhancement of its corporate value.
Na Seung-doo, an analyst at SKSecurities, commented, “A virtuous cycle could be created where investors’ consumption and investments lead to improved corporate performance, which in turn drives up corporate value and leads to shareholder returns,” adding, “This is significant because investors have recently begun to place value on corporate sustainability.”
He viewed this as a particularly positive change from an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) perspective. “While ESG evaluations have largely been score-based in the past, qualitative factors—such as how consumers and investors assess a company’s sustainability—are also important,” Researcher Na said. “We need a system that can objectively evaluate these values and communicate them to investors.”
However, experts point out that investment and consumption are unlikely to continue solely on the basis of “patriotism.” They explain that a virtuous cycle can only be sustained if it is backed by competitive products that consumers actively seek out and by improved corporate performance. Researcher Na emphasized, “Only when companies secure consumers with high-quality, competitive products, and those results translate into improved performance and shareholder returns, can patriotic consumption and investment take root as a sustainable culture.”