Ultra-High Net Worth Investors in South Korea Surge 1.7x Since Year-End as Capital Shifts to Stocks

According to DailyAn, the number of ultra-high net worth investors holding assets above 3 billion won in South Korea more than doubled by June 30, 2026, reaching 24,480 from 14,284 at year-end 2025—a 1.7x increase. The data was compiled from three major brokerages: Mirae Asset, Samsung Securities, and NH Investment & Securities.

Government real estate restrictions and strong stock market performance have redirected capital toward equities, with institutional wealthy investors increasing their stock holdings from 78.9% to 83.2% of their portfolios. Semiconductor stocks—particularly Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which surged 178.57% and 307.07% respectively in the first half—drove wealth concentration. Industry participants attribute the accelerated asset growth to AI-driven semiconductor supercycles, though wealth disparity has widened between investors holding major chipmakers and those without such exposure.