South Korea

Economy & industry overview

South Korea is the fourth-largest economy in Asia and one of the world's leading exporters of semiconductors, electronics, automobiles, and shipbuilding products. The economy is driven by large conglomerate groups known as chaebols, including Samsung, SK, Hyundai, LG, and Lotte, which collectively account for a substantial share of national output and exports. The services sector contributes roughly 58 percent of GDP, while industry including manufacturing represents around 32 percent. South Korea maintains a strong current account surplus and is a member of the OECD, G20, and APEC. The country faces structural headwinds including one of the world's lowest birth rates, a rapidly aging population, and high household debt relative to GDP.

Key sectors

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Macro

GDP nominal, USD	$1.92T
GDP growth real, annual	2.2%
Inflation annual	2.5%
Population people	51.8M
GDP per capita USD	$36,239
Market cap total listed, USD	$2.95T
Market cap / GDP	153.9%
Unemployment	2.8%
Listed companies	2,901
Exchange	Korea Exchange, operating the KOSPI Market for large-cap equities, the KOSDAQ Market for technology and growth companies, and the KONEX Market for small and medium-sized enterprises. (KRX)

Primary data year: 2024. Sources: IMF World Economic Outlook (April 2026), World Bank Open Data, Korea Exchange (KRX), Baker McKenzie Cross-Border Listings Guide (2025), MSCI Market Classification Review 2025 and 2026, Bank of Korea, Statistics Korea (KOSTAT), FocusEconomics, Trading Economics, Korea Economic Institute of America, Wikipedia: KOSPI, Korea Exchange. Individual figures may cover different reference periods — for example a fiscal year, or an estimate for the current year — and the overview above states these where known.

Local exchange & access

Exchange	Korea Exchange, operating the KOSPI Market for large-cap equities, the KOSDAQ Market for technology and growth companies, and the KONEX Market for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Code	KRX
Website	global.krx.co.kr
Currency	KRW

Local broker access

Foreign investors must register with the Financial Supervisory Service before trading Korean securities, typically through a domestic or international broker. Major international brokers including Interactive Brokers, Fidelity, and Schwab provide access to Korean ADRs and ETFs listed in the United States. Direct access to the KRX for foreign retail investors is possible through local Korean brokerage accounts, which require identity verification and registration. The Korean won must generally be purchased to settle domestic equity trades, and currency conversion occurs through domestic foreign exchange channels during Seoul business hours only.

Global brokers with foreign-market access

• Interactive Brokers — Direct access to 90+ markets worldwide, including many emerging exchanges.
• Saxo Bank — Multi-market access across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
• Charles Schwab (Global) — Foreign ordinary shares on select markets; US-listed ADRs and ETFs.
• Fidelity International Trading — International stock trading on a number of developed and emerging markets.

Listed for convenience only. Not a recommendation. Available markets, fees and onboarding rules differ by broker and by your country of residence.

Relocation & residency

Foreign-investor access

Foreign nationals may reside in South Korea under a variety of visa categories including employment (E-series), investment (D-10), and family reunification visas. The country has a high standard of living, universal healthcare, and world-class public infrastructure. Korean language proficiency significantly eases daily life, though English is widely used in business and major urban areas. Long-term residents may apply for naturalization after five years of continuous lawful residence, subject to language and civics requirements.