Learn Korean: Stock Market Losses and Investment Worries

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Korean Reading Practice

"역대급 불장에서 혼자 폭락"…한전 담은 개미들 '눈물...

Date: May 15, 2026

Introduction

This article discusses how Korea Electric Power Company (한전) experienced a significant stock price decline while the overall Korean stock market surged. The decline was driven by concerns about rising international oil and natural gas prices due to geopolitical tensions, which could negatively impact the company's future profits. Despite modest earnings growth, major securities firms have been downgrading their price targets for the company.

Vocabulary

Korean Romanization Meaning Example
주가 juga stock price 주가가 떨어졌어요.The stock price fell.
폭락 poknak sharp decline/plunge 주식이 폭락했습니다.The stock plunged.
국제 유가 gukje yuga international oil price 국제 유가가 올랐어요.International oil prices rose.
액화천연가스 aekhwacheonyeongaseu liquefied natural gas (LNG) 액화천연가스 가격이 비싸요.LNG prices are expensive.
부담 budam burden/concern 비용 부담이 커요.The cost burden is large.
목표주가 mokpyo juga target stock price 목표주가를 내렸어요.The target price was lowered.
하향 조정 hahyang jojeong downward adjustment 가격을 하향 조정했어요.The price was adjusted downward.
순매도 sunmaedo net selling 외국인이 순매도했어요.Foreign investors sold net.
매출액 maechulaek sales revenue 매출액이 증가했어요.Sales revenue increased.
영업이익 yeongeop iik operating profit 영업이익이 0.8% 늘었어요.Operating profit increased by 0.8%.
증권사 jeunggwonsa securities firm 증권사가 목표가를 내렸어요.The securities firm lowered its target price.
우려 uryeo concern/worry 앞으로의 실적에 대한 우려가 있어요.There is concern about future performance.

Reading Text

올해 1분기 한국전력의 주가가 크게 떨어졌습니다.

In the first quarter of this year, Korean Electric Power Company's stock price experienced a sharp decline.

국제 유가와 액화천연가스 가격이 올라가면서 앞으로의 실적에 대한 우려가 커지고 있습니다.

As international oil prices and liquefied natural gas prices rise, concerns about future business performance are growing.

같은 시기에 코스피 지수는 27.82% 급등했지만, 한국전력은 혼자 떨어졌습니다.

While the KOSPI index surged 27.82% during the same period, Korean Electric Power Company stood alone in its decline.

외국인 투자자들은 한국전력 주식을 대량으로 팔아버렸습니다.

Foreign investors sold large amounts of Korean Electric Power Company stock.

한국전력의 매출액은 작년 같은 기간보다 0.7% 증가했고, 영업이익은 0.8% 늘었습니다.

Korean Electric Power Company's sales revenue increased 0.7% compared to the same period last year, and operating profit grew by 0.8%.

그럼에도 불구하고 여러 증권사들이 한국전력의 목표주가를 계속 내리고 있습니다.

Nevertheless, multiple securities firms continue to lower their target stock prices for the company.

증권사들은 에너지 가격 상승이 회사의 수익성에 부정적인 영향을 미칠 것이라고 예상하고 있습니다.

Securities firms anticipate that rising energy prices will have a negative impact on the company's profitability.

개인 투자자들은 주가 하락으로 큰 손실을 입었습니다.

Individual investors suffered significant losses due to the stock price decline.

Grammar Points

-ㄴ/는다고 하다 say that (indirect quote)

-(으)ㄹ 것이라고 하다 is an indirect quotation pattern meaning 'say/expect that (something) will happen'; here securities firms are quoted as expecting a negative impact.

📖 증권사들은 에너지 가격 상승이 회사의 수익성에 부정적인 영향을 미칠 것이라고 예상하고 있습니다. Securities firms expect that rising energy prices will have a negative impact on the company's profitability.

✏️ 선생님은 시험이 어려울 것이라고 말씀하셨어요. The teacher said that the exam would be difficult.

Cultural Notes

Korean Electric Power Company (한전) is a state-owned enterprise that plays a critical role in Korea's national infrastructure and economy. As a publicly traded company, it is closely watched by both individual Korean investors (often called "개미" or "ants" when they invest in small amounts) and institutional investors. Understanding how Korean utility companies are valued helps foreigners grasp the interconnection between global energy markets, geopolitical events, and the Korean economy—a relationship that deeply affects ordinary Koreans' electricity bills and investment portfolios.

Source: 네이버 뉴스 | Original Article
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📝 Comprehension Questions

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Q1

Why did Korean Electric Power Company's stock price decline in the first quarter?

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Q2

How did the KOSPI index perform during the same period when Korean Electric Power Company's stock fell?

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Q3

What did foreign investors do with their Korean Electric Power Company shares?

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Q4

Did the company's actual financial performance (sales and profits) improve or decline compared to the previous year?

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Q5

What reason did securities firms give for lowering the company's target stock price?

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