South Korean ETFs Surge to 512.4 Trillion Won in H1 2026, Semiconductor Leverage Products Dominate Returns

According to Korea Exchange, South Korean ETFs reached 512.4 trillion won in net assets as of end-June 2026, marking the entry into the 500-trillion-won era. The market grew from approximately 300 trillion won at the start of the year, peaking at 532.97 trillion won on May 22 before settling at the June 30 level.

Leveraged products and semiconductor-themed ETFs led market performance. Leveraged ETFs occupied all top 12 positions by H1 return, with TIGER 200IT Leverage gaining 764.07% and KODEX Semiconductor Leverage rising 493.80%. Among traditional ETFs, 11 of the top 20 performers carried semiconductor exposure, including single-stock leveraged products on SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics. According to KOSCOM ETF data, the KODEX SK Hynix single-stock leverage ETF attracted 3.15 trillion won in inflows over the past month.