Violent swings in South Korean stocks triggered a cascade of forced liquidations by his ​brokerage, wiping out the gains. Within weeks, his account had fallen below his initial investment, leaving him under such strain that he said: "I literally could not breathe." For many young South Koreans, the allure of leverage is rooted in a harsher reality beyond the trading screen. "Since ​stocks are volatile assets, that volatility, if it moves upward, allows for rapid wealth creation," ​Lee said. 'POLICY ERROR'According to the Korea Financial Investment Association, margin loan balances in the domestic stock market reached 38.63 trillion won on June 24, the highest level on record.