I’ve lived in Korea for over 40 years, but I’m not a professional stock trader. Like many people here lately, I jumped into the market simply because it felt like everyone else was doing it. In Korea, we have a term called "Byerak-Geoji"—which translates to becoming "suddenly poor" while everyone else gets rich from investments. I didn’t want to be left behind, so I dove in with no hesitation. But today, March 4th, the market gave me a brutal reality check. The KOSPI dropped 12% in a single day.

I have a confession to make. Last week, I actually made a small profit and started to feel like I knew what I was doing. But when the news about the U.S. and Iran conflict broke over the weekend, I panicked in a different way. Instead of staying on the sidelines, I thought, "What if this is my chance to avoid being a Byerak-Geoji?" I jumped back in on Monday, and well... now I’m "stuck" (mullyeot-da).

In Korea, we use the term "mullyeot-da" to describe being trapped in a losing trade. It’s a bitter feeling. Why is the Korean market reacting so violently? Unlike other countries, Korea is highly sensitive to energy prices and foreign capital. When Samsung Electronics drops 10%, the entire nation feels the chill.

Looking at my screen today was like staring into a deep, cold blue ocean (in Korea, blue means a price drop). I’ve seen national crises like the IMF and the 2008 crash from the outside, but feeling it in my own pocket is a completely different story. I’m not going to panic-sell, but I’m definitely reflecting on my greed today.

How is your local market looking? Did you also jump in fearing you'd be "left behind," or are you staying safe? Let’s share our stories in the comments.