South Korean retail investors have poured a net ₩201.85 trillion (approximately $143.4 billion) into domestic stocks and ETFs this year, underscoring how aggressively individuals have stepped in during the market correction. Korea Exchange data through the end of last month show net buying more than doubled from ₩107 trillion (approximately $76.0 billion) on May 15 in less than three months, even as the KOSPI (South Korea's benchmark stock index) fell more than 30% from its June 22 peak of 9,114.55 to the 6,200 level by the 7th. During that drop, retail investors bought more than ₩55 trillion at lower prices, including ₩38.96 trillion (approximately $27.7 billion) in domestic stocks and ₩16.46 trillion (approximately $11.7 billion) in ETFs. The pattern points to a strong preference for large-cap shares: net purchases totaled ₩104.55 trillion (approximately $74.3 billion) on the KOSPI market, ₩36.95 trillion (approximately $26.2 billion) on Nextrade, and ₩70.7 trillion (approximately $50.2 billion) in the ETF market, while the KOSDAQ (South Korea's junior stock market) saw net selling of ₩10.34 trillion (approximately $7.3 billion). Buying carried into this month, lifting combined net stock and ETF purchases to ₩214.15 trillion (approximately $152.2 billion) as of the 7th, more than 15 times the ₩13.16 trillion (approximately $9.4 billion) recorded in the same period last year. The risk is that this buying power may weaken as losses mount and liquidity tightens. Citigroup Global Markets Securities estimated in a report on the 29th of last month that retail investors have lost $38.7 billion, or approximately ₩54.86 trillion (approximately $39.0 billion), from their peak because of leveraged investments in individual stocks, while losses on U.S. stock investments over the past two months are estimated to be approaching ₩50 trillion (approximately $35.5 billion). Customer deposits fell from nearly ₩140 trillion (approximately $99.5 billion) on June 4 to ₩104 trillion (approximately $73.9 billion) by the 4th, and credit loan balances dropped from ₩38.63 trillion (approximately $27.4 billion) on June 24 to below ₩30 trillion (approximately $21.3 billion). Still, market specialists said deposit declines should not be read mechanically as a collapse in retail buying capacity, arguing that those balances tend to lag market sentiment. The regional backdrop remains fragile: Japan's Nikkei 225 swung sharply in the first week of August before closing the 7th at ¥65,606.71, while gains in all three major New York indexes on the 8th have turned attention to whether Tokyo can retake ¥66,300 when trading resumes on the 10th. Thin Obon holiday trading and a dollar-yen rate around ¥157.84 could amplify volatility, especially for exporters.