Expert Warns of 'Buying Void' in Samsung, SK Hynix Through Year-End as Buybacks Wind Down

The Quick Take

• Samsung and SK Hynix share buyback programs are ending in early October, removing an estimated 1.6 trillion won in daily institutional buying support through December.
• Market analyst warns that if the KOSPI climbs above the 7,000 level, a flood of sell orders will overwhelm remaining buyers, creating a sharp downside risk.
• Both stocks fell roughly 5% on Sept 28 in a 190-point KOSPI drop, with analyst experience suggesting post-Chuseok periods typically disappoint bullish expectations.

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix together account for a significant share of the KOSPI's weight and retail investor holdings in South Korea. The completion of their respective share buyback programs in early October removes the primary institutional buffer that has been absorbing sell pressure throughout the third quarter of 2026. Samsung's buyback is set to conclude around October 2 with SK Hynix following shortly after, potentially leaving the market without its most consistent buyers for the final three months of the year, marking a meaningful change in the technical support backdrop for Korea's two flagship semiconductor stocks.

The withdrawal of approximately 1.6 trillion won per day in buyback-related purchases introduces significant downside risk for Samsung and SK Hynix in Q4. Institutional and individual investors who built positions assuming continued buyback support may face accelerated selling if macro headwinds intensify. Broader Korean tech-adjacent sectors including semiconductor equipment makers and power electronics firms could see rotation inflows if the core chip stocks remain under pressure, as buy-side analysts specifically recommended this shift to investors holding overweight semiconductor positions ahead of the support cliff.

Investors should watch three key signals over the coming weeks: the official confirmation of buyback completion dates for Samsung and SK Hynix, daily trading volumes immediately after those dates to measure real demand without buyback support, and any KOSPI approach toward the 7,000 resistance level which the cited analyst identifies as the specific trigger point for accelerated institutional selling. The post-Chuseok holiday seasonal pattern historically shows subdued momentum, adding a near-term timing risk to any recovery attempt by either stock into mid-October.

Synthesized from 2 sources.