[Captured from YouTube channel 'Lee Hong-ryeol TV']
[Captured from YouTube channel 'Lee Hong-ryeol TV']

Amid a recent downturn in the domestic stock market, a warning issued about three months ago by comedian Hwang Hyun-hee — telling viewers to stay out of stocks — is drawing renewed attention.

Appearing on the YouTube channel "Lee Hong-ryeol TV" in July, Hwang was asked how he would manage 100 million won ($74,200) in spare cash that could be set aside for three years. His answer was blunt: "Right now, you should not even think about entering the stock market."

Hwang described the market conditions at the time as far too volatile for ordinary investors. "A market that jumps 7 percent one day and drops 8 percent the next is not a market for novice investors," he said. "It is a stage for so-called professionals who excel at short-term trading — far too dangerous for ordinary retail investors with day jobs to navigate on their own."

He added that he himself was holding cash and sitting on the sidelines. "Even with a knife to my throat, I would not invest in a market like this," he said.

On his investment philosophy, Hwang described himself as a "cycle investor." "I only consider entering the market when there has been a meaningful correction of at least 30 percent from the previous peak," he said.

He also said markets could face a more serious correction toward year-end, particularly if articles began appearing in the United States questioning whether the AI bubble was deflating.

Rather than simply waiting on the sidelines, Hwang offered a practical alternative: a phased buying strategy.

Using 100 million won as an example, he suggested splitting the sum into five tranches of 20 million won each, beginning the first purchase when the market has fallen 15 percent from its previous peak and adding mechanically with each subsequent 5 percent decline.

For the investment vehicle, he recommended exchange-traded funds tracking major US indexes, rather than individual stocks, to avoid the risks that come with picking single names.

Hwang closed with a piece of advice for aspiring investors: "Go to a bookstore first," he said, stressing that thorough study should come before any investment.

Meanwhile, Hwang rose to prominence during the heyday of KBS 2TV's "Gag Concert" before stepping back from comedy to pursue a master's degree in business economics at Yonsei University. He has since reinvented himself as a personal finance expert, building wealth through real estate, share and virtual asset investments, and earning a reputation as a savvy investor.


yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com