Revisiting The Scam's Memorable Lines in the KOSPI 7,000 Era

The days when the word 'stock' would make you think of 'rice' or 'a bowl of rice' are over. Since the KOSPI crossed 7,000 on May 6, this is an era in which everyone invests in stocks rather than thinking of 'rice' or a meal. Stocks, once the domain of experts, have become a hobby and a side hustle for many thanks to the rise of app-centered digital financial systems. With that shift, numerous stock-themed films are being rediscovered, reevaluated, and discussed. Today, let's look at memorable lines and iconic scenes from the Korean stock film 〈The Scam〉 that left lines we shouldn't forget in the KOSPI 7,000 era.

Widely regarded as the definitive Korean stock movie, 〈The Scam〉 (admittedly, there aren't many to choose from). As the 1.5 million admissions at release suggest, public interest in stocks was quite low at the time. However, as stocks have become a national topic, the film is now often mentioned alongside Hollywood's 〈The Big Short〉. The film follows Kang Hyun-soo (Park Yong-ha), an individual investor who becomes entangled with a stock-manipulation ring.

This is the opening line delivered by Jo Min-hyung (Kim Moo-yeol). A securities broker, he says this to a client during a phone call, mocking individual investors—the so-called 'ants.' In reality, there have been cases both in Korea and worldwide where retail investors have shown surprising power. For instance, not long ago, retail buyers absorbed volumes that institutions sold amid U.S.–Iran tensions, which helped blunt stock declines. In the film, this line foreshadows Min-hyung's fate: he doesn't realize he will later be counterattacked by the very retail investor, Hyun-soo.

This line follows from Hyun-soo. It reveals a side of retail investors that can look less innocent: while some use stocks as a sort of savings vehicle, fundamentally many people want to grow what they already have. That greed can blind them and lead to self-destruction. The line candidly captures the capitalist human side hidden under the diligent, earnest label of 'retail investor.'

Although not directly related to stocks, this is one of 〈The Scam〉's most famous lines. Hyun-soo says this, yet after the film's release Gwacheon experienced a boom, with housing prices rising nearly eightfold. There's a twist: director Lee Ho-jae has said he included the line as a joke. Gwacheon was already an up-and-coming area at the time, and Hyun-soo's ignorant scolding of his mother was meant to be comedic — but the line later became a viral meme.

This exchange between Hwang Jong-gu (Park Hee-soon), the mastermind posing as a businessman behind the stock manipulation, and Hyun-soo is a classic. The line “So you’re unemployed” has become a common punchline whenever someone asks, “Should I become a full-time investor? I think I’m good at investing.” It’s also parodied for freelance YouTubers and similar creators. Jong-gu’s immediate, cutting comeback adds spice to the scene.

Anyone who has ever made a sizeable gain from stocks has probably wondered this: I made this much, so how much did the bigger players make? Especially for investors who slowly saved up and finally made a small profit, the sting of limited capital is hard to avoid. Letting go of that feeling early is the path to steadier investing, but in the film Hyun-soo can't overcome it and ends up joining Jong-gu's scheme.

Like the dieting mantra “eat less and exercise more,” this is the stock-market equivalent of the dieting saying “it’s not that people don’t know that.” In other words, it’s the stock-market version of “who doesn’t know that?” — knowing something and doing it are different. The phrase is often used alongside investment greats like Peter Lynch and Warren Buffett, and these days it's frequently parodied in memes like the one below.

This is Kim Seung-beom (Kwon Hyung-joon), the so-called investment expert. He plays a role in Jong-gu’s scheme by exploiting the trust small investors place in him. Of course, securities investment should be done based on one’s own judgment and responsibility, but not everyone can be an expert, so people naturally seek professional help. Kim Seung-beom’s choice to betray that trust for a quick score exposes a raw face of capitalism.

Yoo Seo-yeon (Kim Min-jung), who handles the operation's funds, delivers this line. When Seo-yeon says this to Hyun-soo, she's not just talking about stocks but warning about the operation itself. Hyun-soo got dragged in after being captured by Jong-gu, and seeing him come into conflict with Min-hyung, Seo-yeon warns him not to get too sucked into the scheme. As a gifted investor, Seo-yeon likely sees that Hyun-soo's talents don't belong in this kind of operation.

This line is delivered by Dr. Woo (Shin Hyung-jong). It is often cited as the operation's 'flower' — the crowning move of a scheme. Anyone who has experienced a stock hitting its lower limit will find this line painfully familiar. While it can be a self-deprecating remark by someone who’s hit the floor, you should be careful using it toward others — it can spark a big fight. On the internet, this scene is often paired with clips from 〈Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX〉 as a set.