STOCKS | South Korean Lawmaker Ahn Cheol-Soo Calls for Delisting Single-Stock Leveraged ETFs

A South Korean opposition lawmaker has called for strong corrective measures, including delisting, for leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. According to Odaily, conservative People Power Party lawmaker and former presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo posted on social media on Monday urging action against these Korea-listed leveraged ETFs. Ahn wrote that the KOSPI had “become a casino,” and described the products as a “complete policy failure,” saying they erode corporate value and national wealth. The report said his remarks added to growing concerns among policymakers and investors about the risks of single-stock leveraged ETFs. These products are designed to deliver twice the return of the underlying stock. Odaily reported that their mechanical rebalancing process can force them to buy more when prices rise and sell more when prices fall, which may amplify market volatility.