How to buy Korean stocks as a foreigner (2026)

Updated August 2026

Korea's stock market (KOSPI and KOSDAQ, both operated by Korea Exchange) was long one of the hardest developed markets for foreign retail investors to access directly. That changed substantially in 2026. This guide covers the practical routes, costs and quirks.

Route 1: An international broker with direct KRX access

The simplest option for most people. In May 2026, Interactive Brokers launched direct trading of Korean stocks, covering more than 2,700 listed names including Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix and Hyundai Motor. You trade in Korean won (IBKR handles the FX conversion), during Korean market hours.

If you already have an IBKR account, enabling Korea is a permissions setting. Other international brokers may follow; check whether your broker lists KRX as a destination market.

Route 2: A Korean domestic broker

Korean brokers (Kiwoom, Mirae Asset, Samsung Securities, KIS and others) accept non-resident accounts. Korea abolished its decades-old foreign Investment Registration Certificate (IRC) requirement at the end of 2023 — individuals can now register with a passport number. In practice, though, account opening remotely is paperwork-heavy and most apps are Korean-only. This route mainly makes sense if you live in Korea or want features international brokers don't offer.

Route 3: ETFs and US-listed alternatives

If you just want exposure without a new account:

ETFs: iShares MSCI South Korea (EWY) and Franklin FTSE South Korea (FLKR) are the common US-listed options.
US listings: Coupang trades on NYSE. A handful of Korean companies have ADRs — POSCO (PKX), KB Financial (KB), Shinhan (SHG), SK Telecom (SKM), KT (KT), LG Display (LPL) — but most of the market, including Samsung Electronics, has no US listing.

Market mechanics worth knowing

Hours: regular session 09:00–15:30 KST with no lunch break. Since 2025 an alternative venue (NXT) extends trading roughly 08:00–20:00 KST for most liquid names.
Daily price limits: individual stocks can move at most ±30% per day.
Settlement: T+2, in Korean won.
Board lots: one share, so expensive names are accessible.

Taxes for foreign retail investors

Two features make Korea unusually tax-friendly for foreign individuals, with the usual caveat that treaties and personal circumstances vary:

Capital gains: ordinary foreign retail investors generally pay no Korean capital gains tax on listed shares sold on-exchange (large shareholders and off-exchange transfers are different).
Transaction tax: a small securities transaction tax (currently in the 0.15–0.20% range depending on market) is charged on sales.
Dividends: withheld at 22% by default, reduced under many tax treaties (15% for US residents, for example). Your home country may tax you as well — check your own rules.

Why foreigners are looking at Korea now

Three ingredients drove record interest in 2025–2026: the memory semiconductor supercycle (Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are the world's two largest memory makers), corporate governance reform pushing companies to raise shareholder returns, and historically low valuations — the long-discussed "Korea discount".

One data point worth knowing: Korea publishes investor-level trading data every day — how much foreign investors, institutions and retail bought or sold, per stock. Almost none of it is available in English, which is exactly what this site tracks daily.

This article is general information, not investment, legal or tax advice. Rules change; verify with your broker and a tax professional before acting.