Business · Markets · 1 hr ago
South Korea’s National Pension Fund loses 182 trillion won in stock value
South Korea’s National Pension Service saw the value of its reported stock holdings fall by 182.4 trillion won between the end of June and October 15.
The estimate covers 287 listed companies in which the fund had disclosed stakes of at least 5%.
Their combined value dropped from 515.9 trillion won to 333.5 trillion won, a fall of 35.3% in about three and a half months.
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix drove most of the decline, with their shares falling sharply over the period.
Losses on the fund’s stakes in those two companies totaled 131 trillion won, or 71.8% of the overall decrease.
The fall was the fund’s largest quarterly loss by value in the figures cited, after it recorded 189 trillion won in gains in the period that included the second quarter.
The figures measure changes in share value, and the fund still held stakes of 7.84% in Samsung Electronics and 7.32% in SK Hynix as of October 15.
South Korea’s National Pension Fund’s disclosed holdings in 287 listed companies lost an estimated 182.4 trillion won in value between the end of June and October 15.
The decline was 35.3%, reducing the holdings’ estimated value from 515.9 trillion won to 333.5 trillion won.
It was the fund’s first quarterly loss since the fourth quarter of 2024 and its largest loss by value, according to Maeil Business.
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix together accounted for about 131 trillion won, or 71.8%, of the decline.
Chosun Ilbo reported criticism that the fund did not act as a market stabilizer during a sharp sell-off.
- Who
- South Korea’s National Pension Fund.
- What
- Its disclosed stock holdings lost an estimated 182.4 trillion won in value.
- When
- Between the end of June and October 15, 2026.
- Where
- South Korea’s domestic stock market.
- Why
- Falling share prices, especially for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, reduced the market value of the fund’s holdings.
Critics of the fund
National Pension Fund
Market-stabilizer role
Critics of the fund
Critics said the fund failed to absorb foreign selling during the sharp market decline.
National Pension Fund
The articles report the fund’s losses but do not state its response to the criticism.
The fund recorded 189 trillion won in gains, according to Maeil Business.
The disclosed holdings’ estimated value stood at 515.9 trillion won.
The holdings’ estimated value was 333.5 trillion won, after a decline of 182.4 trillion won.
Maeil Business and Chosun Ilbo reported the fund’s losses.
- Estimated loss
- 182.3963 trillion won
- Change in value
- Down 35.3%
- Companies covered
- 287 listed companies with disclosed holdings of at least 5%
- Samsung Electronics loss
- 56.871 trillion won
- SK Hynix loss
- 74.2261 trillion won
- Combined share of total loss
- 71.8% from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix