Up 37% on Day One, Over 40,000 Won Intraday: DTS and Speco's Rumor Limit-Up

Seoul — As of the Oct. 23, 2026 close (data as of 16:32 KST), two stocks closed up 20% or more: DTS and Speco. DTS rose on its first trading day on KOSDAQ (Korea's tech- and small-cap-heavy market), and Speco rose on an unconfirmed rumor about North Korea's leader. Neither has a company filing behind the move. The KOSPI rose 0.3% to 5,550.30 while the KOSDAQ fell 1.62% to 751.69.

Key points

• KOSPI 5,550.30 (+0.3%), KOSDAQ 751.69 (-1.62%). Two stocks rose more than 20% on a day the KOSDAQ fell.
• Closing gainers of 20% or more: DTS +37.3%, Speco +29.98% (limit-up, the 30% daily cap).
• DTS traded 712.6 billion won, about 1.9 times its 378 billion won market cap.
• Giantstep was up 20.5% at 1:30 p.m. but closed up 3.25%.
• None of the three has a filing that explains the rise.

At a glance

DTS (0015M0): up 37% on its debut on expectations, after topping 40,000 won intraday

DTS listed on KOSDAQ today and closed at 25,400 won, up 37.3%. Because it is the first trading day there is no prior close; the reference price implied by the close and the percentage move is about 18,500 won. Yonhap reported it closed up 35% with gains narrowing, and Namdo Ilbo reported at 12:03 p.m. that it topped 40,000 won intraday. At 1:30 p.m. it traded at 33,150 won, up 79.19%, so it closed well off its intraday high.

No filing explains the rise; the company has no filings in the past seven days because it only just listed. Prime Economy ran a profile headlined "essential for AI data centers" cooling technology, which describes the business rather than confirming any contract or earnings. Newswell noted it listed after clearing the dual-listing rules. The catalyst is expectation tied to the debut, not a verified deal.

Trading value of 712.6 billion won was about 1.9 times market cap of 378 billion won, so shares turned over heavily. Check whether the 25,400 won close holds on the next session and how far trading value falls. Also check the lockup commitments by institutional investors and the release dates once disclosed, since they decide how many shares can trade.

Speco (013810): limit-up on a death rumor with no evidence and no filing

Speco closed at 2,055 won, limit-up. The Fact reported that rumors of Kim Jong Un's death spreading online drew buying into defense-related Speco. Newsis reported at 9:23 a.m. that defense stocks were strong, with Victek up 14% and Speco up 10%. The stock rose 15.25% the day before, and is up 44.3% over two days and 41.7% over five.

Seoul Economic Daily headlined that there was no evidence, reporting that nothing had been found to back up a problem with his health. The company has filed nothing on DART (Korea's official disclosure system) in the past seven days. The rise is a reaction to rumor, not to earnings or contracts. With a market cap of just 30.1 billion won, trading value of 13.0 billion won can move the price a lot. Pinpoint News reported on Oct. 22 about asphalt-concrete stocks drawing interest on road infrastructure expectations, but that is not the direct reason for today's limit-up.

Watch two things: whether the rumor is officially confirmed or denied, and whether trading value holds the day after the limit-up. If the rumor is cleared up, the gains could be reversed.

Giantstep (289220): up 20% at 1:30 p.m., closed up 3.25%, no reason identified

Giantstep closed at 1,526 won, up 3.25%. At 1:30 p.m. it was at 1,781 won, up 20.5%, so most of the gain faded late in the session. It is up 49.5% over five sessions, with rises of about 30% each on Oct. 16 and Oct. 20.

According to DART, the exchange requested a disclosure on abnormal price movement on Oct. 20, and the company answered "no material information" on Oct. 21 (receipt no. 20261021900421). Other filings in the period, a shareholder meeting result and an independent director appointment, do not explain the rally. No filing or report explains today's rise. Newstnt reported on Oct. 21 that it was among stocks flagged for a possible investment warning.

The company itself said it had nothing material to disclose, so this is a rise without a confirmed reason. Check whether the investment warning is imposed and whether trading value falls afterward.

Previously covered stocks: what happened next

Of the four stocks backed only by reports, three closed lower than on the article date. Of the three backed by filings, two fell and one rose. Ellis, where no reason was found, rose. The verdict does not guarantee what happens next.