Purchases of ETFs listed overseas by Korean retail investors have fluctuated during the first 11 months of 2025, with a notable spike in October and a decline in July
Press Release
LONDON — December 31, 2025 —ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm renowned for its expertise in subscription research, consulting services, events, and ETF TV on global ETF industry trends, reported today that purchases of ETFs listed overseas by Korean retail investors have fluctuated during the first 11 months of 2025, with a notable spike in October and a decline in July. Early months (January to April) showed steady growth, peaking in April; mid-year (June to August) experienced a decline in both purchase amount and ETF count; and October stood out with a surge in dollar amount despite fewer ETFs purchased, indicating a concentration in high-value ETFs.
In November, 25 of the top 50 overseas securities purchased by Korean retail investors were ETFs listed in the U.S. This marks an increase from 19 ETFs in October, as well as an increase from 21 ETFs in September, and 23 in August.
Starting in December, the Financial Supervisory Service FSS will require individual investors in Korea who wish to trade overseas-listed derivatives, leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or exchange-traded notes (ETNs) to complete mandatory pre-investment education and participate in simulated trading sessions. (All dollar values in USD unless otherwise noted)
Highlights
-
Purchases have fluctuated throughout the first 11 months of 2025, with a notable spike in October and a decline in July.
- Highest purchase amount: October 2025 at US$15,846 million (with 19 ETFs purchased).
- Lowest purchase amount: July 2025 at US$7,489 million (with 23 ETFs purchased).
- November: US$9,412 million across 25 ETFs purchased.
- Peak number of ETFs purchased: April 2025 (32 ETFs), even though purchase amount was US$12,076 million.
Total Amount of overseas ETFs purchased by Korean retail investors by month in 2025
|
Dec-24 |
Jan-25 |
Feb-25 |
Mar-25 |
Apr-25 |
May-25 |
Jun-25 |
Jul-25 |
Aug-25 |
Sep-25 |
Oct-25 |
Nov-25 |
||||
|
# ETFs purchased |
26 |
22 |
25 |
30 |
32 |
28 |
26 |
22 |
23 |
21 |
19 |
25 |
|||
|
Total amount of ETF purchases (US$ Mn) |
11,773 |
9,992 |
9,366 |
9,942 |
12,076 |
9,904 |
9,664 |
7,489 |
8,433 |
9,478 |
15,846 |
9,412 |
|||
Source, Korea Securities Depository.
- Korean retail investors purchased $9.41 billion in overseas ETFs in November
- 25 of the top 50 overseas purchase were ETFs listed in the United States
- 19 of the top 25 ETFs on the list provide leverage or inverse exposure.
- The largest purchase was $2.83 Bn of DIREXION DAILY SEMICONDUCTORS BULL 3X SHS ETF listed in the U.S.
Top 10 overseas ETFs purchased in November
|
ETF Name |
Purchase Amount in USD |
|
DIREXION DAILY SEMICONDUCTORS BULL 3X SHS ETF |
2,833,890,153 |
|
DIREXION DAILY TSLA BULL 2X SHARES |
917,397,265 |
|
INVESCO QQQ TRUST SRS 1 ETF |
838,985,434 |
|
PROSHARES ULTRAPRO QQQ ETF |
504,170,524 |
|
GRANITESHARES 2.0X LONG NVDA DAILY ETF |
467,311,659 |
|
VOLATILITY SHARES TRUST 2X ETHER ETF NEW SPLR 974476707 US92864M4006 |
354,279,927 |
|
DIREXION DAILY META BULL 2X SHARES |
340,106,151 |
|
ISHARES 0-3 MONTH TREASURY BOND ETF |
315,581,385 |
|
DIREXION SEMICONDUCTOR BEAR 3X ETF |
274,259,240 |
|
SPDR SP 500 ETF TRUST |
259,484,143 |
Source, Korea Securities Depository.
The ETF industry in Korea has 1,441 ETFs, with assets of $207.21 Bn, from 39 providers listed on the Korea Exchange at the end of November 2025. 21.86% of the ETFs provide leverage or inverse exposure which account for 6.66% of the assets in the ETF industry in Korea.
Asset Growth in Korea ETF industry as of the end of November
Contact deborah.fuhr@etfgi.com if you have any questions or comments on the press release or ETFGI events, research or consulting services.
|
The ETFGI Global ETFs Insights Summits (www.ETFGI.com) are a premier series of six annual, regionally focused educational events designed to facilitate deep, practical discussions on ETF due diligence, selection, and trading—covering local, U.S., and UCITS-listed products. These summits are tailored for financial advisors and institutional investors across Europe and Africa, Latin America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, the United States, and Canada.
Each event offers a unique opportunity to hear from and network with industry leaders—including ETF issuers, regulators, investors, exchanges, and trading firms—who will share valuable insights into product development, regulatory trends, trading practices, and technological innovations shaping the future of ETFs and mutual funds. Free registration and CPD credits for buyside institutional investors and financial advisors!
If you are interested in sponsoring or speaking at any of our upcoming events or have any questions, please contact us deborah.fuhr@etfgi.com and margareta.hricova@etfgi.com.
Register for our 2026 events:
- 7th Annual ETFGI Global ETFs Insights Summit - Europe & Africa. Register your interest.
- 7th Annual ETFGI Global ETFs Insights Summit - Latin America, May 20th in Mexico City at BIVA and May 21st virtual. Register now.
- 7th Annual ETFGI Global ETFs Insights Summit - Asia Pacific, September 9th in Hong Kong and September 10th virtual. Register now.
- 7th Annual ETFGI Global ETFs Insights Summit - Middle East / GCC. Register your interest.
- 7th Annual ETFGI Global ETFs Insights Summit - United States. Register your interest.
- 8th Annual ETFGI Global ETFs Insights Summit - Canada, December 8th in Toronto at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)’s office. Register now.
|
ETF TV (www.ETFtv.net) is an on-demand program that highlights newly launched exchange-traded funds, products, and notes, while exploring the most pressing topics shaping the ETF landscape. Each episode brings together leading voices from across the industry—including issuers, investors, benchmark providers, and traders—to discuss the trends and developments influencing the use and management of exchange-traded products.
Every show features insightful interviews with key market participants, offering expert perspectives on the issues that matter most to the ETF community. ETF TV also offers the opportunity to create sponsored episodes, allowing partners to collaborate with us in producing custom content tailored to their brand and messaging.
|
|
Stay ahead of the curve with ETFGI’s trusted, data-driven insights into the global ETF ecosystem — from active and smart beta strategies to crypto, ESG, and institutional usage.” Contact us info@etfgi.com if you are interested in subscribing to any of our annual research services. Our reports cover the Global ETFs industry which had 15,347 products, with 30,007 listings, assets of $19.25 trillion, from 928 providers on 83 exchanges in 65 countries at the end of October.
ETFGI SUBSCRIPTION RESEARCH SERVICES:
ETFGI Annual subscription research services provide monthly reports covering trends globally and by each region where ETFs are listed:
- ETFGI Basic Global ETFs research service
- ETFGI Global Active ETFs Landscape report
- ETFGI Global Smart Beta ETFs Landscape report
- ETFGI Global China ETFs Landscape report
- ETFGI Global Crypto ETFs Landscape report
- ETFGI Global Currency Hedged ETFs Landscape report
- ETFGI Global EM and FM ETFs Landscape report
- ETFGI Global ESG ETFs Landscape report
- ETFGI Global Leverage and Inverse ETFs Landscape report
- ETFGI Global Thematic ETFs Landscape report
- ETFGI Revenue report for the Global ETFs industry
- ETFGI Global Institutional & Mutual Funds Users of ETFs Landscape reports
|
|
Disclaimer:
This press release is published by, and remains the copyright of, ETFGI LLP ("ETFGI") or its licensors. The information and data in this press release is for information purposes only. ETFGI makes no warranties or representations regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information contained on this press release.
ETFGI does not offer investment advice or make recommendations regarding investments and nothing in the press release shall be deemed to constitute financial or investment advice in any way and shall not constitute a regulated activity for the purposes of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Further, nothing in this press release shall constitute or be deemed to constitute an invitation or inducement to any person to engage in investment activity. Should you undertake any such activity based on information contained in this press release, you do so entirely at your own risk and ETFGI shall have no liability whatsoever for any loss, damage, costs or expenses incurred or suffered by you as a result.
ETFGI LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC372221. Our registered office is at 130 Jermyn Street, 2nd Floor, St James’s, London, SW1Y 4UR.