'TIGER U.S. S&P 500' Tops KRW 5 Trillion in Individual Net Purchases YTD, First Among Korean ETFs

1.4 times last year's annual net purchases
Sets a new all-time record

Mirae Asset Global Investments said on October 29 that year-to-date net purchases by individual investors of its TIGER U.S. S&P 500 exchange-traded fund (ETF) had exceeded KRW 5 trillion. It is the first ETF listed in South Korea to record more than KRW 5 trillion in annual net purchases by individual investors.

According to the Korea Exchange, as of October 28, year-to-date net purchases by individual investors of the TIGER U.S. S&P 500 ETF totaled KRW 5.1823 trillion. That was the largest amount among ETFs listed in South Korea, including leveraged and inverse products.

This is about 1.4 times the KRW 3.6387 trillion the same ETF recorded last year, which had been the highest annual figure for a single ETF. Of the 200 trading days so far this year, individual investors were net buyers on 185 days, meaning funds flowed in on more than nine out of every 10 trading days.

The TIGER U.S. S&P 500 ETF has ranked first in net purchases by individual investors in 2024 and 2025, as well as this year. If the trend continues through year-end, it will rank first for three consecutive years.

The TIGER U.S. S&P 500 ETF also stood out among ETFs listed in South Korea that track the same index. While net purchases by individual investors of other S&P 500-tracking ETFs totaled KRW 3.3097 trillion, the TIGER U.S. S&P 500 ETF accounted for 61% of all net purchases by individual investors of S&P 500-tracking ETFs listed in South Korea.

Demand for proven diversification tools is cited as a reason individual investors’ money is flowing into leading U.S. indexes. Unlike the first half of the year, when investment was concentrated in domestic equity funds, ETFs tracking leading U.S. indexes ranked among the most popular purchases by individual investors in the second half. In particular, the TIGER U.S. S&P 500 ETF has become a core asset for regular monthly investments through pension savings and retirement pension accounts. Net purchases have continued steadily even during market corrections.

"The fact that KRW 5 trillion in individual investor funds has flowed into a single ETF in one year means that South Korean investors no longer view leading U.S. indexes merely as an option for overseas investment, but as a foundation for building wealth," said Kim Sangyul, head of the Global ETF Management Division at Mirae Asset Global Investments. "We will do our utmost to manage the fund so that the TIGER U.S. S&P 500 ETF can rank first in net purchases by individual investors for three consecutive years and establish itself as a leading product that helps South Korean investors build retirement assets."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.