KB Securities’ Brokerage-type ISA Balance Surpasses 4 Trillion Won

KB Securities announced on January 20 that the balance of its brokerage-type Individual Savings Account (ISA) surpassed 4 trillion won as of January 5.

The brokerage-type ISA is an account that allows for the flexible operation and integrated management of a variety of financial products-including funds, equity-linked securities (ELS), and bonds-as well as domestically listed stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), all within a single account. Notably, if the account is held for three years and then closed, a tax exemption of up to 4 million won (for the basic plan) is provided, and profits exceeding this amount are subject to a separate tax rate of 9.9%, resulting in significant tax-saving benefits.

An analysis of KB Securities’ brokerage-type ISA customer data revealed that, due to the system’s annual contribution limit, the investment base is expanding rapidly. In particular, a clear trend toward ETF-focused investment is emerging among Millennials & Gen Z.

By age group, the number of brokerage-type ISA investors in their 20s and 30s increased significantly from 47,000 at the end of 2024 to 72,000 at the end of 2025. As of the end of 2025, stocks and ETFs accounted for 92% of the investment assets held by Millennials & Gen Z, compared to 86% for those in their 40s and 50s, highlighting a pronounced preference for direct investment among younger generations.

In contrast, for customers in their 60s and 70s, the proportion of investments in products such as funds, bonds, ELS, and repurchase agreements (RP) was around 20%, indicating that as age increases, there is a stronger tendency to prioritize asset allocation.

Meanwhile, more than 13,000 customers participated in KB Securities’ “Year-End Special Event for Brokerage-type ISA” held in December 2025. In a poll on “the investment product group that generated the highest returns for you in 2025,” ETFs received the highest share of votes at 84%, demonstrating that the ETF-centered investment trend is translating into actual profit experiences.

In 2026, government policy is expected to further expand ISA benefits, which is anticipated to promote long-term investment in the domestic stock market, strengthen benefits for the younger generation, and broaden existing tax advantages.

Son Heejae, Head of Digital Business Group at KB Securities, stated, “The brokerage-type ISA is a product that enables flexible asset allocation according to investment objectives. As investment patterns by generation become established, it shows that the market has entered a phase of structural growth. Going forward, we plan to continue driving the growth of the brokerage-type ISA market by strengthening customer-focused products and services.”