'Stuck at floor 259': Retail investors cry out as SK Hynix shares tumble

Broadcaster Seo Dong-ju has revealed she bought SK Hynix shares at 2.59 million won ($1,720) each, only to watch the price slide into the 1.8 million won range, leaving her nursing a paper loss.

In a video published Monday on the YouTube channel "Money in the Trap," Seo introduced herself as "a Korean ant stuck on the 259th floor of the Hynix apartment." She added, "I just checked and the share price has dropped to the 1.8 million won range. Can I cry for a moment before we get started?"

The "259th floor of the Hynix apartment" is a tongue-in-cheek reference to her purchase price of 2.59 million won per share. SK Hynix closed at 1.845 million won on Monday, meaning she is sitting on an unrealized loss of more than 700,000 won per share.

SK Hynix posted its steepest single-day decline since its founding on Monday. The stock bounced back Tuesday, rising 3.69 percent to 1.913 million won, according to Korea Exchange. Samsung Electronics also rebounded, gaining 3.34 percent. Analysts attributed the recovery to bargain hunters moving in after the previous session's sharp losses.

Jang Woo-jin, chief executive of Geumsigong, who appeared in the same video, said he had not expected the selloff to go that far. "I thought there could be some turbulence, but the speed has been faster than I anticipated," he said. "Pension funds failed to act as a brake, and the rebalancing came too late — I think that is what triggered the current situation."

Jang said he remained cautiously optimistic. "The fundamentals still have room," he said. "I expect there is some chance of a further rebound."

Seo said the anxiety was hard to shake. "My head tells me I just have to wait, but my heart keeps burning," she said. "Every time I open the stock screen on my phone, I find myself screaming without even realizing it."

Seo is the daughter of the late comedian Seo Se-won and broadcaster Seo Jeong-hee.