For the First Time in Korean ETF History,
a Foreign Equity ETF Takes the Top Spot
According to the Korea Exchange, as of the closing price on July 10, the net assets of the TIGER US S&P500 ETF stood at 8.5397 trillion won. It was overwhelmingly chosen by individual investors, ranking first in "annual net purchases by individuals in 2024" and "net purchases by individuals in the first half of 2025." The TIGER US S&P500 ETF has thus established itself as the "national representative ETF."
Since the launch of the domestic ETF market in 2002, the top spot in net assets had consistently been held by domestic equity or fixed-income ETFs. With the TIGER US S&P500 ETF now in first place, the domestic ETF market has reached a significant turning point. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, interest among domestic investors in US equities surged, and investing in US stocks through domestically listed foreign equity ETFs such as the TIGER US S&P500 ETF, rather than direct investment, has become a common approach.
As the largest ETF in Korea, the TIGER US S&P500 ETF will continue to strengthen its position as the leading vehicle for investing in US equities. It aims to support long-term investment with low actual costs. According to the Korea Financial Investment Association, as of the end of last month, the TER (total expense ratio, including management fees and other costs) of the TIGER US S&P500 ETF was 0.0768%. Including trading and brokerage fees (0.0414%), the actual cost burden for investors is 0.1182%, which is the lowest among US S&P500 ETFs listed in Korea.
In the US market, when tracking the same index, lower costs contribute to improved long-term returns, making actual cost burden a key factor for local investors in selecting products. The "Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO)," which tracks the S&P500 index, recently overtook the long-standing leader "SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust ETF (SPY)" to become number one in net assets for the first time in 32 years, thanks in part to its lower costs.
To celebrate the TIGER US S&P500 ETF reaching the top spot in net assets, Mirae Asset Global Investments is holding a special event. Until August 8, customers who participate in the event commemorating the ETF's number one ranking in net assets among domestic ETFs will be entered into a drawing to receive a gifticon. Detailed information about the event can be found on the official TIGER ETF website.
Kim Namki, head of ETF management at Mirae Asset Global Investments, stated, "Achieving the number one position is the result of Mirae Asset's long-standing efforts, including the listing of Korea's first US Nasdaq physical ETF in 2010 and the first US S&P500 physical ETF in 2020, pioneering a culture of investing in major US indices."
He added, "This achievement is even more meaningful because it was made possible by the returns of investors who trusted the TIGER ETF and continued with long-term, systematic investments. Although global market uncertainty remains high due to US tariff policies, I advise investors not to be swayed by short-term market fluctuations, but to trust in the long-term growth of the capital market and continue with systematic, long-term investments."
Along with the TIGER US S&P500 ETF, the "TIGER ETF" brand has been the most popular choice among individual investors in the domestic ETF market. According to the Korea Exchange, as of the end of June, individual investors held 27.1 trillion won in TIGER ETFs. This represents 43% of the total 63.7 trillion won held by individual investors in all domestic ETFs. The TIGER ETF has maintained the top spot in individual investor market share for 44 consecutive months since November 2021.
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