A high school student in South Korea announced online plans to gamble with savings and Lunar New Year holiday money on what he believes will be a rapidly rising stock, according to a post made Monday evening.
The post, shared on an online forum, detailed an intention to engage in day trading of a “ 급등주” (rapidly rising stock) following the conclusion of the Lunar New Year holiday. The student indicated the funds would arrive from a combination of holiday gift money and personal savings.
The announcement comes amid increased investor interest in the Korean stock market, particularly the Kosdaq index. Earlier this month, President Yoon Suk Yeol expressed a desire to see the Kosdaq reach 3000, a statement interpreted by some analysts as a deliberate attempt to influence market sentiment, according to a report by the Maeil Business Newspaper. The report noted that such “verbal intervention” by the President has spurred activity in undervalued stocks on the Kosdaq.
Recent market activity has seen some stocks experience significant gains. The Maeil Business Newspaper reported that one stock saw a year-over-year increase in share price of over 300 percent, attracting substantial market attention.
The student’s post appeared on February 16, 2026, coinciding with the final day of the Lunar New Year holiday in China, Brazil, and Argentina, all of which were observed as public holidays. The United States similarly observed a holiday on the same day.
Financial analyst Jae-tech Nongbu, writing on the Naver platform, recently highlighted IBM as a potentially attractive investment, citing the company’s involvement in quantum computing, space technology, and artificial intelligence. However, the student’s post did not specify which stock he intended to trade.
The Kakao777 blog, a platform offering stock-related information, published an analysis of 11 insurance-related stocks on February 16, 2026, but it is unclear if this analysis influenced the student’s decision. The blog emphasized that its stock recommendations are not formal investment advice and that investors bear full responsibility for their investment choices.