Countries / East Asia
Investing in South Korea
A handful of family-controlled conglomerates — chaebol — still dominate the domestic stock market, which trades at a persistent valuation discount investors call the "Korea discount." That has pushed a generation of retail investors to look abroad.
- Capital
- Seoul
- Currency
- South Korean won
- Main exchange
- Korea Exchange (KRX)
- Regulator
- Financial Services Commission (FSC)
How people invest in South Korea
Retail traders (nicknamed "ants") are famous for direct, high-conviction positions — heavily in chaebol shares, but increasingly in US mega-cap tech via overseas brokerage accounts ("Seohak ants"). Real estate in Seoul and crypto both carry outsized cultural weight relative to their economic footprint.
Entrepreneurial families to know
Business families based in South Korea who are also active capital allocators — see the full family capital directory.
Other East Asia markets
Ready to put capital to work?
Browse platforms, banks, and funds active in East Asia, or read our start-investing guide.