Korean retail investors have made net purchases of ETFs nearing 70 trillion KRW by 2026, absorbing assets against the market trend during adjustment periods.

Odaily reports that according to data from the Korea Exchange (KRX) and financial information provider Yonhap Infomax, South Korean retail investors recorded a cumulative net purchase of ETFs worth 69.5 trillion won in 2026, accounting for approximately 63.2% of the net purchases in the Korean securities market (KOSPI market) during the same period, which totaled 109.9 trillion won. Despite the recent correction phase in the Korean stock market, retail investors continue to allocate capital to the market via ETFs. By quarter, the net purchase amount was 33 trillion won in the first quarter (January to March) and 28.9 trillion won in the second quarter (April to June), while in the third quarter, over 1 trillion won has already been additionally purchased so far this month. In terms of capital flows, over the past month (June 23 to July 23), Covered Call and monthly dividend ETFs attracted a combined net inflow of about 2 trillion won from individual investors, while semiconductor, space technology, and AI growth-themed ETFs saw net capital outflows. This indicates that amid increased market volatility, investors are shifting from the pursuit of high growth to favoring income-focused ETFs with stable cash flows. (Tokenpost)