Foreign investors’ net investment in South Korean stocks reached its highest level in over 18 months in September. Offshore investors purchased $4.34 billion worth of local stocks, marking the largest inflow since February 2024. The increase reflects optimism about improved conditions in the semiconductor industry.
Foreign investors also boosted their holdings in Korean bonds, buying $4.78 billion in September. This followed net selling of $770 million in August. The Bank of Korea noted that bond purchases were driven by rising demand for mid- to long-term securities.
The semiconductor sector led gains, with the Korea Exchange’s semiconductor index rising 26.8 percent in September. The benchmark KOSPI index also climbed nine percent during the month. Meanwhile, the Korean won weakened against the US dollar, dropping from 1,390.1 in August to 1,402.9 in September.
Investors from the United States were the largest buyers last month, net purchasing 1.4 trillion won, followed by Ireland with 0.4 trillion won. Foreign investment in Korean stocks has now seen four consecutive months of net inflows, reflecting strong performance and positive market sentiment.
