Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) shares have surged past the 210,000 won mark, leaving retail investors who sold their holdings in the low 100,000 won range late last year with deep regret.
Samsung Electronics closed Friday at 219,000 won, up 2.1% from the previous trading day. Compared with its 52-week low of 53,700 won, the stock has more than quadrupled. The cumulative gain this year alone exceeds 80%.
But for investors who chose to sell at the early stage of the rebound, the rally is someone else's story. According to Samsung Electronics' business report, the number of minority shareholders stood at 4,195,927 as of the end of December last year, a decrease of 964,000 from 5,160,210 at the end of 2024.
The number of shares held by minority shareholders also fell by approximately 81.96 million, from 4,073,349,914 to 3,991,480,867. Their combined stake in total outstanding shares dropped by 2.19 percentage points, from 68.23% to 66.04%.
Behind the exodus lies extreme price volatility. In the second half of 2024, Samsung Electronics' average common share price fell from 84,383 won in July to 54,035 won in December. In the second half of 2025, it rebounded from 65,087 won in July to 108,724 won in December. Many retail investors who had purchased shares at the "80,000-won Samsung" or "90,000-won Samsung" levels are believed to have rushed to realize profits once the price crossed the 100,000 won threshold.
Television personality Ji Suk-jin recently said on a YouTube program, "I bought Samsung Electronics in the 80,000 won range, but sold when it topped 100,000 won." He said he was left speechless when the stock later surged past 200,000 won. He added that he had advised his wife that "timing is important" and that they sold together. Reflecting on watching the stock climb after selling, he said, "It always hurts when the price goes up after you sell." Comedian Lee Kyung-shil also disclosed on another program that she had sold her Samsung Electronics shares in the 70,000 won range.
Meanwhile, retail investors who left Samsung Electronics last year appear to have re-entered this year amid the sharp rally. So far this year, retail investors have net purchased 16.335 trillion won ($11.2 billion) worth of Samsung Electronics shares as the KOSPI broke through 6,000 and the stock surpassed the 200,000 won milestone.
