KOSDAQ ETF Returns Surge in the "Cheonsdaq" Era as Individual Investors Flock In

Top 1 to 5 Weekly Returns Dominated by KOSDAQ Leverage ETFs
Individual Investors Net Buy 600 Billion Won of "KODEX KOSDAQ150" on the 26th

With the advent of the "Cheonsdaq" era-KOSDAQ surpassing the 1,000 mark for the first time in over four years-returns on related exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have also risen. Retail investors are flocking to KOSDAQ-related ETFs, driven by high returns and policy expectations.

According to Koscom ETF Check on January 28, the top five ETF performers over the past week were all KOSDAQ leveraged ETFs that track the KOSDAQ index by a factor of two.

On the 26th, after the KOSDAQ index surpassed the 1000 mark for the first time in four years and surged over 3%, triggering a buy-side car, dealers were working in the dealing room at the headquarters of Hana Bank in Jung-gu, Seoul. January 26, 2026. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

KIWOOM KOSDAQ150 Futures Leverage posted the highest return at 49.47%, followed by HANARO KOSDAQ150 Futures Leverage at 48.99%, RISE KOSDAQ150 Futures Leverage at 48.56%, KODEX KOSDAQ150 Leverage at 48.47%, and TIGER KOSDAQ150 Leverage at 47.84%.

Other KOSDAQ-tracking ETFs in the top ten for returns included TIGER KOSDAQ150 Biotech (25.84%, 7th place), KIWOOM KOSDAQ150 (22.98%, 9th place), and HANARO KOSDAQ150 (22.77%, 10th place).

Recently, the government has been implementing policies to vitalize the KOSDAQ, following similar efforts for the KOSPI. In December of last year, the Financial Services Commission announced the "KOSDAQ Trust and Innovation Enhancement Plan," and on January 22, the Democratic Party's KOSPI 5000 Special Committee reportedly proposed the "KOSDAQ 3000 Achievement Goal."

As a result, retail investors' buying power is increasingly concentrated in KOSDAQ-related ETFs. In particular, ETF purchases surged after KOSDAQ surpassed 1,000 points on January 26. According to Koscom ETF Check, KODEX KOSDAQ150 recorded a net individual purchase of 595.2 billion KRW on January 26 alone, setting the highest single-day net individual purchase in the history of domestic ETFs. The previous record was held by KODEX Leverage at 438.2 billion KRW, which was far surpassed.

KODEX KOSDAQ150 Leverage (263.4 billion KRW, 2nd place), TIGER KOSDAQ150 (138.5 billion KRW, 3rd place), and TIGER KOSDAQ150 Leverage (27.7 billion KRW, 7th place) also ranked high in net individual purchases.

Meanwhile, on the previous day, the KOSDAQ index closed at 1,082.59, up 18.18 points (1.71%) from the previous session.