45% of Respondents Say "It Will Help Revitalize the Stock Market"
Regulatory Exemptions Needed for Online Platforms
Gift Tax Exemption for Third-Party Stock Gifticon Transfers
The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) has proposed the introduction of a "stock gifticon service" to the Office for Government Policy Coordination, aiming to revitalize the domestic stock market. This initiative is intended to broaden the base of the domestic stock market and foster a culture of appreciation for companies among the public, especially as the proportion of overseas stock investments is rapidly increasing.
According to the FKI on December 23, the volume of overseas stock transactions by individual investors surged from 27.45 billion dollars in the first quarter of 2020 to 157.56 billion dollars in the third quarter of 2025, while domestic stock transactions remained stagnant during the same period. In response, the FKI explained that there is a need to introduce a service that allows people to gift specific domestic stocks in the form of gifticons.
Survey results also showed considerable public interest in the service. In a survey commissioned by the FKI and conducted by Mono Research on 500 men and women under the age of 40 nationwide, 44.8% of respondents said they would use the stock gifticon service if it were introduced. The intention to use the service was even higher among those with stock investment experience, at 54.7%. Respondents mainly expressed interest in using the service for birthdays, holidays, year-end and New Year celebrations, investment education for children or acquaintances, and academic or career milestones such as graduation or employment.
Unlike existing financial investment gift certificates or stock gifting services, the stock gifticon would allow users to purchase and gift specific stocks via online shopping platforms, making it more accessible. However, there are concerns about institutional obstacles, such as restrictions on distribution through online platforms under current laws and regulations, the imposition of gift taxes, and limitations on payment methods.
To address these issues, the FKI proposed four policy measures: 1) permitting distribution through regulatory exemptions such as designation as an innovative financial service by the Financial Services Commission, 2) introducing a gift tax exemption for stock gifticons transferred between third parties, 3) establishing a public platform to reduce distribution fees, and 4) diversifying payment options to include credit cards and simple payment methods. In particular, the FKI suggested setting the annual gift tax exemption limit at 2.5 million won and minimizing potential side effects by imposing monthly usage limits on credit card payments.
Lee Sangho, Head of the Economic and Industrial Division at the FKI, stated, "If a stock gifticon service that can be given as a gift on special occasions is introduced, it will help expand the base of individual investors and contribute to the development of the domestic financial sector." He added, "A positive review is necessary to help the public accumulate stable financial assets and to spread a culture of appreciation for companies."
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