South Korean Investors Flock to U.S. Stocks
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 24 2026
0mins
Source: CNBC
- Surge in U.S. Purchases: In 2025, South Korea ranked as the third-largest buyer of U.S. stocks with net purchases of $73.6 billion, nearly five times the amount from 2024, indicating a strong interest in U.S. equities despite the KOSPI's impressive 75% return last year.
- Investor Demographics Shift: Approximately 15 million retail investors account for 60% to 70% of annual trading volume in South Korea, driving demand for U.S. stocks and reflecting confidence in the U.S. market and a pursuit of higher returns.
- Government Response Measures: The South Korean government announced tax exemptions on capital gains for individual investors selling foreign stocks and reinvesting in domestic equities, aiming to attract funds back home, though analysts remain skeptical about the effectiveness of these measures in curbing the outflow of
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About ING
ING Groep N.V. (ING) is a financial institution. The Company offers banking services. The Company's segments include Retail Netherlands, which offers current and savings accounts, business lending, mortgages and other consumer lending in the Netherlands; Retail Belgium, which offers products that are similar to those in the Netherlands; Retail Germany, which offers current and savings accounts, mortgages and other customer lending; Retail Other, which offers products that are similar to those in the Netherlands, and Wholesale Banking, which offers wholesale banking activities (a full range of products from cash management to corporate finance), real estate and lease. The Company's Retail Banking business lines provide products and services to individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-corporates. ING's banking activities in Australia are undertaken by ING Bank (Australia) Limited (trading as ING Direct) and ING Bank NV Sydney Branch.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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