韩国基民投资理财新趋势：偏好高杠杆ETF

Core Insights - The rise of retail investors, referred to as the "Ant Army," is significantly influencing the South Korean capital market, with many young investors viewing investment as a means to change their fortunes amid economic challenges [1][5] - South Korean investors are increasingly favoring high-risk leveraged products, including ETFs and derivatives, despite the associated risks [2][3] Investment Trends - South Korean investors have a long-standing preference for high-risk assets, with the introduction of leveraged ETFs in 2010 marking the beginning of this trend [2] - Recent data shows that during a market closure, South Korean investors invested approximately $1.2 billion globally, with significant net inflows into leveraged ETFs like the Direxion Daily Tesla Bull 2X ETF [3] - The total credit trading balance in the South Korean stock market reached a new high of 23.83 trillion KRW as of mid-October 2023, approaching the historical peak of 25.65 trillion KRW set in 2021 [3] ETF Market Growth - The South Korean ETF market has seen rapid growth, with the number of listed ETFs surpassing 1,000 for the first time in July 2023, and the total asset size reaching 260 trillion KRW by mid-October 2023 [5][6] - Individual investors have net bought 21.3 trillion KRW worth of ETFs in 2023, while institutional investors have shown a net outflow during the same period [6] Focus on Chinese Assets - Since 2025, there has been a noticeable increase in South Korean investors' interest in Chinese assets, particularly in Hong Kong tech stocks, with China becoming the second-largest overseas stock market for South Korean investors [8][9] - The net buying of Chinese assets by South Korean investors reached $393 million since 2025, with a significant focus on technology giants and emerging industries [8][9] Notable Investments - The top five net bought A-shares by South Korean investors include companies like Cambricon and WuXi AppTec, while the top five net bought Hong Kong stocks include Xiaomi and NIO [9]