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How to invest in South Korea using ETFs
How do I invest in South Korean stocks?
The easiest way to invest in the whole South Korean stock market is to invest in a broad market index. This can be done at low cost by using ETFs.
On the South Korean stock market you'll find 3 indices which are tracked by ETFs.
Alternatively, you can invest in indices on the Asia-Pacific region and Emerging Markets.
Performance of South Korean stocks (MSCI Korea 20/35)
1 month: 11.97%
1 year: 79.12%
3 years: 65.87%
5 years: 12.67%
Indices in comparison
The best indices for ETFs on South Korea
For an investment in the South Korean stock market, there are 3 indices available which are tracked by 6 ETFs. On the FTSE Korea 30/18 Capped index there is 1 ETF. On the MSCI Korea 20/35 index there are 4 ETFs. On the MSCI Korea 20/35 Custom index there is 1 ETF. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on these indices is between 0.09% p.a. and 0.65% p.a..
| Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
FTSE Korea 30/18 Capped | South Korea | 1 ETF | 161 (31.03.22) | The FTSE Korea 30/18 Capped index tracks the largest stocks from South Korea. The largest company in the index is limited to a maximum of 30 percent of the index capitalization, all other index components to a maximum of 18 percent. Index factsheet |
MSCI Korea 20/35 | South Korea | 4 ETFs | 111 (30.11.22) | The MSCI Korea 20/35 index tracks large and mid cap Korean stocks. The weight of the largest constituent is constrained to 35% and the weights of all other constituents are constrained to a maximum of 20%. Index factsheet |
MSCI Korea 20/35 Custom | South Korea | 1 ETF | 111 (30.11.22) | The MSCI Korea 20/35 Custom index tracks large and mid cap Korean stocks. The weight of the largest constituent is constrained to 35% and the weights of all other constituents are constrained to a maximum of 20%. A buffer of 10% is applied on these limits at each index rebalancing. Index factsheet |
| ETF ISIN | Fund size in m CHF | TER in % | Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin FTSE Korea UCITS ETFIE00BHZRR030 | 1,321 | 0.09% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| iShares MSCI Korea UCITS ETF (Dist)IE00B0M63391 | 452 | 0.65% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| HSBC MSCI Korea Capped UCITS ETF USDIE00B3Z0X395 | 431 | 0.50% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| iShares MSCI Korea UCITS ETF (Acc)IE00B5W4TY14 | 258 | 0.65% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Amundi MSCI Korea UCITS ETF AccLU1900066975 | 203 | 0.45% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
| Xtrackers MSCI Korea UCITS ETF 1C 1CLU0292100046 | 67 | 0.45% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication |
| Index | 1 month in % | 3 months in % | 6 months in % | 1 year in % | 3 years in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTSE Korea 30/18 Capped | 10.56% | 25.28% | 39.74% | 70.66% | 60.64% | |
| MSCI Korea 20/35 Custom | 10.81% | 26.32% | 42.27% | 74.02% | 60.52% | |
| MSCI Korea 20/35 | 10.86% | 26.35% | 42.29% | 74.28% | 58.88% |
| Index | 2026 in % | 2025 in % | 2024 in % | 2023 in % | 2022 in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTSE Korea 30/18 Capped | - | 70.66% | -15.79% | 11.78% | -27.84% | |
| MSCI Korea 20/35 | - | 74.28% | -16.13% | 8.70% | -27.59% | |
| MSCI Korea 20/35 Custom | - | 74.02% | -16.76% | 10.81% | -28.04% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31.12.25; Calculations in CHF based on the largest ETF of the respective index.
The best South Korea ETFs
by 1 year return
| 1 | iShares MSCI Korea UCITS ETF (Dist) | 74.28% |
| 2 | HSBC MSCI Korea Capped UCITS ETF USD | 74.26% |
| 3 | Amundi MSCI Korea UCITS ETF Acc | 74.06% |
The cheapest South Korea ETFs
by total expense ratio (TER)
| 1 | Franklin FTSE Korea UCITS ETF | 0.09% p.a. |
| 2 | Amundi MSCI Korea UCITS ETF Acc | 0.45% p.a. |
| 3 | Xtrackers MSCI Korea UCITS ETF 1C 1C | 0.45% p.a. |
Alternative investment opportunities
Asia-Pacific indices with a large share of South Korea
Besides South Korea ETFs, you may consider ETFs on the Asia-Pacific region. In total, you can invest in 5 Asia-Pacific indices, which are tracked by 10 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on Asia-Pacific is between 0.15% p.a. and 0.74% p.a..
| Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan | Asia Pacific South Korea: 28.19% (30/11/2022) | 2 ETFs | 399 (31.08.23) | The FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan index tracks large and mid cap stocks from developed countries in the Asia Pacific region excluding Japan. Index factsheet |
| MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan | Asia Pacific South Korea: 11.25% (30/11/2022) | 1 ETF | 1,060 (28.11.25) | The MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan index tracks equity markets of the emerging and developed countries of the Asia and Pacific region, excluding Japan. Index factsheet |
| MSCI AC Asia ex Japan | Asia Pacific South Korea: 13.61% (30/11/2022) | 1 ETF | 1,009 (28.11.25) | The MSCI AC Asia ex Japan index tracks equity markets of the emerging and developed countries of the Asia region, excluding Japan. Index factsheet |
| MSCI AC Far East ex Japan | Asia Pacific South Korea: 16.39% (30/11/2022) | 2 ETFs | 846 (28.11.25) | The MSCI AC Far East ex Japan index tracks equity markets of the emerging and developed countries of the East Asian region, excluding Japan. Index factsheet |
| MSCI Emerging Markets Asia | Asia Pacific South Korea: 15.31% (30/11/2022) | 4 ETFs | 966 (28.11.25) | The MSCI Emerging Markets Asia index tracks large and mid cap companies from Asian emerging markets. Index factsheet |
| ETF ISIN | Fund size in m CHF | TER in % | Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares MSCI EM Asia UCITS ETF (Acc)IE00B5L8K969 | 4,326 | 0.20% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF DistributingIE00B9F5YL18 | 1,225 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Amundi MSCI Emerging Markets Asia UCITS ETF EUR (C)LU1681044480 | 1,148 | 0.20% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
| SPDR MSCI EM Asia UCITS ETFIE00B466KX20 | 1,021 | 0.55% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| iShares MSCI AC Far East ex-Japan UCITS ETFIE00B0M63730 | 857 | 0.74% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| UBS MSCI AC Asia ex Japan SF UCITS ETF USD accIE00B7WK2W23 | 628 | 0.23% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Swap-based | |
| Amundi MSCI Emerging Markets Asia UCITS ETF USDLU1681044563 | 605 | 0.20% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
| Amundi MSCI AC Asia Pacific Ex Japan UCITS ETF AccLU1900068328 | 525 | 0.60% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
| Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF (USD) AccumulatingIE00BK5BQZ41 | 397 | 0.15% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| HSBC MSCI AC Far East ex Japan UCITS ETF USDIE00BBQ2W338 | 268 | 0.45% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication |
| Index | 1 month in % | 3 months in % | 6 months in % | 1 year in % | 3 years in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan | 1.53% | 2.97% | 12.95% | 12.66% | 29.63% | |
| MSCI AC Asia ex Japan | 1.06% | 3.62% | 14.75% | 15.58% | 34.20% | |
| MSCI Emerging Markets Asia | 1.27% | 3.85% | 15.40% | 15.84% | 36.94% | |
| MSCI AC Far East ex Japan | 1.73% | 3.41% | 19.24% | 22.44% | 37.16% | |
| FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan | 4.20% | 8.47% | 16.77% | 23.28% | 26.71% |
| Index | 2026 in % | 2025 in % | 2024 in % | 2023 in % | 2022 in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan | - | 12.66% | 18.85% | -3.18% | -16.72% | |
| MSCI AC Asia ex Japan | - | 15.58% | 20.92% | -3.97% | -18.87% | |
| MSCI Emerging Markets Asia | - | 15.84% | 21.06% | -2.35% | -19.06% | |
| FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan | - | 23.28% | 1.95% | 0.82% | -11.60% | |
| MSCI AC Far East ex Japan | - | 22.44% | 20.65% | -7.16% | -19.83% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31.12.25; Calculations in CHF based on the largest ETF of the respective index.
Emerging markets indices with a large share of South Korea
Besides South Korea ETFs you may consider emerging markets ETFs. In total, you can invest in 1 emerging markets index, which is tracked by 18 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on emerging markets is between 0.14% p.a. and 0.55% p.a..
| Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI Emerging Markets | Emerging Markets South Korea: 11.95% (30/11/2022) | 18 ETFs | 1,196 (28.11.25) | The MSCI Emerging Markets index tracks stocks from emerging markets worldwide. Index factsheet |
| ETF ISIN | Fund size in m CHF | TER in % | Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF 1CIE00BTJRMP35 | 7,860 | 0.18% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Optimized sampling | |
| iShares MSCI EM UCITS ETF (Dist)IE00B0M63177 | 5,889 | 0.18% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| iShares MSCI EM UCITS ETF (Acc)IE00B4L5YC18 | 5,138 | 0.18% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| UBS Core MSCI EM UCITS ETF USD accLU0950674175 | 4,174 | 0.15% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Optimized sampling | |
| Amundi Core MSCI Emerging Markets Swap UCITS ETF DistLU2573966905 | 3,230 | 0.14% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
| Amundi Core MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF AccLU1437017350 | 3,000 | 0.18% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Amundi MSCI Emerging Markets Swap UCITS ETF EUR AccLU1681045370 | 2,917 | 0.20% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
| HSBC MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF USDIE00B5SSQT16 | 2,623 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| UBS Core MSCI EM UCITS ETF USD disLU0480132876 | 1,798 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Optimized sampling | |
| SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETFIE00B469F816 | 1,162 | 0.18% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Amundi MSCI Emerging Markets Swap UCITS ETF USD AccLU1681045453 | 1,042 | 0.20% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
| Amundi MSCI Emerging Markets Swap II UCITS ETF EUR AccFR0010429068 | 776 | 0.55% p.a. | Accumulating | France | Unfunded swap | |
| Amundi Core MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF EUR DistLU1737652583 | 765 | 0.18% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Swap UCITS ETF 1CLU0292107645 | 616 | 0.49% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
| Invesco MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETFIE00B3DWVS88 | 284 | 0.19% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Unfunded swap | |
| UBS MSCI EM SF UCITS ETF USD accIE00B3Z3FS74 | 148 | 0.14% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Swap-based | |
| Amundi MSCI Emerging Markets Swap II UCITS ETF USD AccFR0010435297 | 104 | 0.55% p.a. | Accumulating | France | Unfunded swap | |
| UBS ETF (LU) MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF (USD) A-UKdisLU1126036976 | 83 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Optimized sampling |
| Index | 1 month in % | 3 months in % | 6 months in % | 1 year in % | 3 years in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI Emerging Markets | 1.28% | 4.02% | 15.24% | 16.97% | 35.23% |
| Index | 2026 in % | 2025 in % | 2024 in % | 2023 in % | 2022 in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI Emerging Markets | - | 16.97% | 16.24% | -0.54% | -19.25% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31.12.25; Calculations in CHF based on the largest ETF of the respective index.