Era of 14.56 Million Individual Investors in Korea... Investment Warning Due to 'FOMO' Phenomenon

The asset management trend, which was centered on deposits and savings in the past, is rapidly changing toward securities investment such as stocks. As interest in the securities market has risen to the point where one in three South Korean citizens is investing in stocks, the 'FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)' phenomenon, which refers to the fear of being left behind, has been identified as one of the major causes of investment decisions.

14.56 Million Domestic Individual Investors... Expansion of Investment Base Since the COVID-19 Pandemic

According to 2025 aggregate data from the Korea Securities Depository, the number of domestic individual investors in South Korea has reached 14.56 million. This means that approximately one in three citizens is investing in stocks. In the past, the parent generation tended to feel a strong sense of fear regarding stock investment, but as a bull market unfolded following the COVID-19 pandemic, the population participating in stocks increased rapidly.

This change is also evident in the differences in investment methods between generations. In the past, it was common for parents to open savings accounts for their children to encourage saving, but recently, cases of opening stock accounts for children first are increasing. The participants in the video mentioned a changed landscape where children feel a sense of familiarity with stocks to the extent that they declare themselves shareholders of specific companies.

'Am I the Only One Not Making Money?' The FOMO Phenomenon Causing Impatience and Investment Risks

The 'FOMO' phenomenon, where people feel anxiety that 'am I the only one missing out on opportunities?' after hearing about the investment successes of those around them, is a major characteristic of the recent investment market. To the extent that expressions like 'money copying' are used online, many people start investing without sufficient study due to the fear of falling behind others or failing to generate profits. The video pointed out that due to this impatience, there are many cases where people decide to invest while being in a state of not knowing well, which instead leads to losses.

One of Warren Buffett's investment principles, 'Rule No. 1: Never lose money,' and 'Rule No. 2: Never forget Rule No. 1' to uphold it, were mentioned. It was emphasized that while anyone can make a profit when the market is rising, this may not be directly linked to an individual's skill, and losses can occur during bear markets or periods of high volatility. Therefore, rather than relying on the recommendations of others, it is essential to develop the habit of understanding economic conditions and studying individual stocks directly.

Diversified Fund Products and the Need to Consider Individual Investment Tendencies

Investment vehicles are very diverse, including bonds, funds, commodities, and dollars in addition to stocks. In particular, the 'National Growth Fund,' launched by the government to foster advanced strategic industries such as semiconductors, gained high popularity, even closing early. Beyond products sold by securities firms, the range of choices is wide, including government-led public participation funds.

Funds are classified into equity-type, bond-type, hybrid-type, forms that invest in the entire market, and forms that invest in commodities such as gold or silver, depending on the investment target. The video advised that rather than feeling the burden of having to study all investment fields, it is important to first decide on a suitable investment field for oneself and check one's investment tendency. An attitude of investing safely from a long-term perspective with conviction, while accessing sufficient information through news and articles, is required.