Behind South Koreans’ growing interest in Chinese tech stocks

South Koreans have long been known for their passion for investing, and in November 2024, individual investors hit a major milestone—pouring over $100 billion into the U.S. stock market. But as 2025 began, the tide started to turn. A wave of American tech stocks stumbled following the release of China’s AI chatbot, DeepSeek, shaking up market dynamics. Now, South Korean retail investors—always on the hunt for the next big opportunity—are shifting their focus toward China’s surging tech sector. In this episode, Lee Jungjoo, a reporter at The Korea Herald, unpacks the factors fueling South Korea’s growing appetite for Chinese stocks—and what it means for the future of global markets.