Strong and consistent demand by Korean retail investors throughout 2025 for overseas listed ETFs
Press Release
LONDON — February 06, 2026 — Monthly Purchases of overseas listed ETFs by Korean retail investors showed consistently strong demand throughout 2025. The number of ETFs purchased each month ranged between 19 and 32, with the year beginning at 22 ETFs in January, rising to a peak of 32 ETFs in April, and ending with 27 ETFs in December, up from 26 in December 2024.
In terms of monetary value, ETF purchases fluctuated but remained resilient, totaling between US$7.49 billion and US$15.85 billion per month. Purchases reached their highest level in October 2025 at US$15.85 billion, significantly surpassing all other months. December 2025 closed the year with US$9.10 billion in purchases, slightly lower than November but still well above mid‑year volumes.
(Source: Korea Securities Depository)
Highlights
- Strong and consistent demand throughout 2025, with 19–32 ETFs purchased monthly.
- ETF count peaked in April (32 ETFs) and ended the year at 27 ETFs, up from 26 in Dec 2024.
- Monthly purchase values ranged from US$7.49Bn to US$15.85Bn.
- October 2025 was the record month with US$15.85Bn in ETF purchases.
- December closed at US$9.10Bn in purchases.
- Purchases dominated by leveraged U.S. thematic ETFs.
- SOXL – Direxion Daily Semiconductors Bull 3X led with US$2.39Bn.
- 2025 purchases increased by US$18.30Bn, up 17.9% YoY.
- Largest YoY gains: April (+108%) and January (+92.8%)
- Only July, August, and November saw lower purchases vs. 2024.
- Peak month in 2025: October (US$15.85Bn) while the Peak in 2024: November (US$12.49Bn).
Monthly purchases of overseas ETFs by Korean retail investors during 2025
Top 10 Overseas ETFs Purchased in December 2025
December activity was heavily concentrated in leveraged U.S. thematic ETFs. The Direxion Daily Semiconductors Bull 3X ETF was by far the most purchased, reaching US$2.39 billion. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) followed at US$802.6 million, alongside growth‑oriented products such as the Direxion Daily TSLA Bull 2X ETF (US$692.2 million) and Invesco QQQ Trust (US$663.2 million). Short‑term U.S. Treasury exposure also remained in demand, with the iShares 0–3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) attracting US$463.1 million.
(Source: Korea Securities Depository)
Top 10 overseas ETFs purchased in December
|
ETF Name |
Purchase Amount in USD |
|
DIREXION DAILY SEMICONDUCTORS BULL 3X SHS ETF |
2,388,742,379 |
|
SPDR SP 500 ETF TRUST |
802,626,922 |
|
DIREXION DAILY TSLA BULL 2X SHARES |
692,184,306 |
|
INVESCO QQQ TRUST SRS 1 ETF |
663,238,694 |
|
ISHARES 0-3 MONTH TREASURY BOND ETF |
463,103,217 |
|
VANGUARD SP 500 ETF SPLR 39326002188 US9229084135 |
398,648,607 |
|
PROSHARES ULTRAPRO QQQ ETF |
351,681,020 |
|
GRANITESHARES 2.0X LONG NVDA DAILY ETF |
339,147,821 |
|
DIREXION SEMICONDUCTOR BEAR 3X ETF |
332,255,739 |
|
T-REX 2X LONG BMNR DAILY TARGET ETF |
319,812,863 |
Source, Korea Securities Depository.
Comparison of Monthly Overseas ETF Purchases in 2025 vs. 2024
Across nearly every month, Korean retail investors purchased more overseas ETFs in 2025 than in 2024, resulting in a total increase of US$18.30 billion, or +17.9% year‑over‑year.
- The largest year‑on‑year gains occurred in April 2025, where purchases grew by +108.1%, and in January, up +92.8%.
- The strongest month of 2025 was October (US$15.85 billion), exceeding the 2024 peak in November (US$12.49 billion).
- Only three months — July, August, and November — saw lower purchases in 2025 compared to their 2024 counterparts.
(Source: Korea Securities Depository)
Overseas ETFs purchased by Korean retail investors by month in 2025 and 2024
|
|
|
Change |
|
|||
|
Month |
2025 (US$ Mn) |
2024 (US$ Mn) |
% |
US$ Mn |
|
|
|
January |
9,992 |
5,184 |
92.8% |
4,808 |
|
|
|
February |
9,366 |
5,332 |
75.7% |
4,034 |
|
|
|
March |
9,942 |
7,270 |
36.8% |
2,672 |
|
|
|
April |
12,076 |
5,803 |
108.1% |
6,273 |
|
|
|
May |
9,904 |
5,470 |
81.1% |
4,434 |
|
|
|
June |
9,664 |
6,952 |
39.0% |
2,712 |
|
|
|
July |
7,489 |
10,695 |
-30.0% |
(3,206) |
|
|
|
August |
8,433 |
11,785 |
-28.4% |
(3,352) |
|
|
|
September |
9,478 |
9,236 |
2.6% |
242 |
|
|
|
October |
15,846 |
10,411 |
52.2% |
5,435 |
|
|
|
November |
9,412 |
12,485 |
-24.6% |
(3,073) |
|
|
|
December |
9,095 |
11,773 |
-22.7% |
(2,678) |
|
|
|
Total |
120,698 |
102,396 |
17.9% |
18,302 |
|
|
Source, Korea Securities Depository.
Top 10 Overseas ETFs Purchased in 2025 vs. 2024
Investor activity in both years showed a strong preference for leveraged semiconductor and technology‑linked ETFs.
In 2025, the top‑purchased ETF was again the Direxion Daily Semiconductors Bull 3X Shares (SOXL) at US$22.88 billion, followed by the Direxion Daily TSLA Bull 2X Shares (TSLL) at US$17.47 billion, and SPY at US$13.55 billion. The top 10 ETFs represented US$91.33 billion, accounting for a large portion of total annual purchases.
In 2024, SOXL was also the leading ETF, with an even higher US$26.07 billion purchased. Other leveraged products such as SOXS, TSLL, and NVDL ranked prominently. The top 10 totaled US$76.43 billion, reflecting a narrower concentration of high‑volume trades compared to 2025.
Overall, 2025 saw broader diversification across top ETFs and a meaningful increase in total investment flow.
(Source: Korea Securities Depository)
Top 10 overseas ETFs purchased in 2025 Top 10 overseas ETFs purchased in 2024
|
Ticker |
ETF Name |
Total Purchase Amount (US$ Mn) |
|
SOXL US |
Direxion Daily Semiconductors Bull 3x Shares |
22,881 |
|
TSLL US |
Direxion Daily TSLA Bull 2X Shares |
17,468 |
|
SPY US |
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust |
13,549 |
|
QQQ US |
Invesco QQQ Trust |
9,904 |
|
TQQQ US |
ProShares UltraPro QQQ |
5,813 |
|
NVDL US |
GraniteShares 2x Long NVDA Daily ETF |
5,297 |
|
SOXS US |
Direxion Daily Semiconductors Bear 3x Shares |
5,014 |
|
SGOV US |
iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF |
4,031 |
|
VOO US |
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF |
3,789 |
|
ETHU US |
Ether Strategy ETF |
3,580 |
|
Total for Top 10 |
91,325 |
|
|
Total |
120,698 |
|
|
Ticker |
ETF Name |
Total Purchase Amount (US$ Mn) |
|
SOXL US |
Direxion Daily Semiconductors Bull 3x Shares |
26,070 |
|
SOXS US |
Direxion Daily Semiconductors Bear 3x Shares |
10,433 |
|
TSLL US |
Direxion Daily TSLA Bull 2X Shares |
10,158 |
|
NVDL US |
GraniteShares 2x Long NVDA Daily ETF |
7,733 |
|
TQQQ US |
ProShares UltraPro QQQ |
5,646 |
|
TMF US |
Direxion Daily 20 Year Plus Treasury Bull 3x Shares |
3,891 |
|
SPY US |
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust |
3,755 |
|
SQQQ US |
ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ |
3,584 |
|
BITX US |
2x Bitcoin Strategy ETF |
2,954 |
|
CONL US |
GraniteShares 2x Long COIN Daily ETF |
2,206 |
|
Total for Top 10 |
76,430 |
|
|
Total |
102,396 |
|
Source, Korea Securities Depository
The ETF industry in Korea has 1,443 ETFs, with assets of $218.72 Bn, from 39 providers listed on the Korea Exchange at the end of December 2025. 21.41% of the ETFs provide leverage or inverse exposure which account for 6.49% of the assets in the ETF industry in Korea.
Asset Growth in Korea ETF industry as of the end of December
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