Korean Retail Trading Share Plunges 16 Points to Six-Month Low

KOSPI retail volume share fell to ~31.2% in July, down from 48.1% in Jan. Foreign investors now lead trading as volatility drives exits.

Woofun AI data shows that Korean retail investors accounted for approximately 31.2% to 31.5% of KOSPI trading volume in July, a significant decline from 48.1% in January. This represents a drop of roughly 16 to 17 percentage points over six months, marking a six-month low. Foreign investors surpassed retail participation, holding 38% to 39% of the volume. The Korea Exchange noted that minor index rebounds now trigger sell-offs as investors seek to recover principal. Analysts attribute this shift to the market's heavy reliance on Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.