韩国股市，“崩了”

Market Overview - The South Korean stock market experienced a significant drop on August 1, with the Seoul Composite Index falling nearly 4%, marking the largest decline since early April [3] - The index closed at 3129.72, down 115.72 points or 3.57% from the previous day [4] Tax Policy Changes - The South Korean government proposed increasing taxes on corporations and investors, which has raised concerns among market participants [3] - Capital gains tax thresholds for stock holdings will decrease from 5 billion KRW (approximately 71,425 USD) to 1 billion KRW, and the corporate tax rate will rise from 24% to 25% [4][6] - The proposed stock transaction tax will increase from 0.15% to 0.2%, and dividend income will be taxed at 20% for amounts between 20 million and 300 million KRW, and at 35% for amounts exceeding 300 million KRW [8] Investor Sentiment - The proposed tax changes have sparked strong backlash among retail investors, with a nationwide petition for immediate withdrawal gaining traction [5][6] - Despite the recent downturn, the Seoul Composite Index has risen over 30% year-to-date, benefiting from optimistic sentiment surrounding corporate governance reforms [5] Economic Context - The government aims to boost weak fiscal revenues to increase subsidies and stimulate consumption amid slowing economic growth [6] - The proposed tax increases may undermine the support of the active retail investor community, which has been crucial for the government's market initiatives [6] Company Performance - Samsung Electronics, the largest company by market capitalization in South Korea, has seen its stock decline for two consecutive days due to disappointing earnings results [6] - The market had previously anticipated progress in Samsung's memory chip and foundry businesses, which had driven a rebound in its stock over the past two months [6]