University student A, 23, recently participated in the subscription to SK Biosciences public offering, but received only one week. But I wasn’t disappointed. This is because it has 10 more shares in addition to the subscription amount. At the beginning of the year, he bought 10 shares for 190,000 won per share at the over-the-counter market. The reason I bought SK Bioscience after giving me’Ultradon’ is because of the memories of Kakao Games.
In August of last year, he bought 20 shares of Kakao Games, which is about to go public, for 65,000 won per share. Around the world, it was said that there would be a big difference from the public offering price (24,000 won). However, Kakao Games recorded a’tasangsang (the upper limit for two days in a row)’ and earned 30% of the profit.
Like Mr. A, the number of investors in their 20s who visit the over-the-counter market is increasing rapidly. This is the impact of the super boom in the public offering stock market. OTC stock investors increased in all age groups, but the increase in 20s is more than twice that of other age groups.
Graphic = Reporter Hur Rami [email protected]
○ The proportion of people in their 20s increased by 16 times
According to the OTC stock trading platform’Securities Plus Unlisted’ on the 18th, the number of monthly active users (MAU) in their 20s last month recorded 29,600. Compared to a year ago (1896 people), it increased 15.6 times. This greatly exceeds the rate of increase in total users. The total number of users increased by 8.9 times from 15,000 to 134,000.
The proportion of people in their twenties doubled. The proportion of investors in their 20s, which was 12.6% a year ago, reached 22.1% at the end of last February. In other age groups, the number of users increased, but the proportion decreased. This is the background of the analysis that the 20s are leading the over-the-counter stock craze. Those in their 30s decreased from 25.3% to 23.9%, and those in their 40s decreased from 31% to 28%. The proportion of people in their 50s also decreased.
There are various reasons why investors in their twenties have soared. First of all is the propensity to invest. Those in their twenties led the Bitcoin rally in the past. Last year, they discovered growth stocks such as games and media. It responds to information faster than any generation. Recently, it can be said that’free IPO’ is viewed as a safe and reliable financial means.
○Carbang·Krafton’Interest’
There is also a success experience. In fact, most of the purchases of stocks that are about to be listed have made profits. SK Biopharm, Big Hit Entertainment, and Kakao Games did that. On the first day of listing, SK Bioscience also recorded a’tasang (return rate of 160%)’.
The stocks invested by those in their twenties are also concentrated in companies that are about to be listed. According to Securities Plus unlisted, the latest interests in their twenties are Kakao Bank, Krafton, and Yanolja. All three are planning IPOs.
The emergence of mobile trading platforms is also leading the 20s to over-the-counter stocks. In the past, purchasing OTC stocks had to be done by phone or in person. But now, you can do’safe transactions’ with just one app. There is no reason for those in their twenties who are familiar with mobile to reject OTC stocks.
One reason is that many companies familiar with their twenties are promoting listing. Kakao Bank, Krafton, and Yanolja, which are on the list of interest items in their 20s, are popular services in their 20s. As information is shared based on the platform, the’rejection’ of OTC stocks has also decreased. All of these exchanges have discussion boards.
○“If you want to buy a house, you have to take risks”
There is also urgency. The prices of other assets, such as real estate and stocks, have already skyrocketed. This year, the stock price has been moving sideways. It is an analysis that under this situation, people in their twenties are being driven to unlisted stocks that can expect high profits. He said, “I’m still thinking about becoming a’thunderbolt’, so I’m investing in it.”
Mr. B, who has been working for 3 years, recently invested 20 million won in an autonomous driving startup. I decided to think of it as’serving’ at work for 6 months if I made an investment. Mr. B said, “Earned income is meaningless and capital income is now an important era. The goal was to do financial technology better than to succeed at work,” he said.
However, voices of concern about such investment in their twenties are also growing. It is pointed out that they are not aware of the high risk of OTC stocks. OTC stocks are often overvalued prior to listing. These companies are at risk of a sharp decline in stock prices immediately after listing.
If you fail to list, you may not be able to sell. Due to the small volume of transactions, there are many cases where stocks cannot be sold at the desired time. It is also a pitfall of OTC stock investment that it is difficult to determine the internal situation because there is no disclosure obligation.
Reporter Park Uimyung [email protected]