Stock Climbs to $520M Volume Ranking 174th as Geopolitical Moves Ignite Investor Activity

On August 18, 2025, The saw a trading volume of $0.52 billion, a 68.28% increase from the previous day, ranking 174th in the stock market. This surge reflects heightened investor activity amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.

President Lee Jae-myung outlined a conciliatory approach toward North Korea, emphasizing the restoration of inter-Korean military agreements and the suspension of hostile measures. His administration has halted propaganda broadcasts and leaflet campaigns to the North, signaling a shift from the previous government’s hardline stance. The Ministry of Unification highlighted a "step-by-step exchange" strategy to ease sanctions and build trust, diverging from earlier unilateral actions. Analysts suggest these moves could stabilize regional tensions but face challenges due to North Korea’s insistence on "irreversible nuclear possession."

Lee’s policy reversal, including the potential revival of the 2018 military agreement, contrasts with the Yoon Suk-yeol administration’s "absorption unification" doctrine. While the government aims to preemptively implement agreements, internal debates persist over the feasibility of restoring military cooperation amid political and procedural hurdles. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young stressed cautious progress, noting the need for cabinet-level deliberation to address historical disputes and mutual distrust.

Internationally, Lee’s pragmatic foreign policy extends to Japan, where he urged historical reconciliation while prioritizing economic collaboration. However, Japan’s mixed signals—such as visits to controversial shrines—highlight ongoing sensitivities. The administration’s focus on balancing diplomacy with deterrence aligns with broader regional security concerns, particularly amid U.S.-China tensions and North Korea’s growing nuclear capabilities.

The strategy of buying the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding them for one day resulted in a moderate return. The total profit from this strategy, considering the given time frame from 2022 to the present, is $2,340. The cumulative return reaches 23.4%. This indicates a positive performance, but the returns are not significantly high, suggesting a more conservative approach to trading volume-based strategies.