Overview
- Bank of Korea says residents’ overseas equity investments hit $114.35 billion in 2025, nearly triple 2024.
- Financial Supervisory Service data show foreigners held 1,326.8 trillion won of Korean shares at year-end, up 96.9% from 2024.
- The value jump followed a roughly 77% rise in total market capitalization to 3,478 trillion won, lifting foreign ownership to 30.8% of the market.
- Offshore investors were net sellers over 2025, with the United States the largest holder at 546 trillion won, followed by the United Kingdom and Singapore.
- Momentum carried into January 2026, with foreign-held values rising further to 1,701 trillion won as the Kospi advanced and Samsung Electronics topped 1,000 trillion won in market value.