ETF Market Sees Robust Inflows into Semiconductor and Nuclear-Themed Products Amid Accelerated Growth
In the exchange-traded fund (ETF) market, semiconductor-focused funds have been leading substantial capital inflows. The 'TIGER Semiconductor TOP10' ETF attracted approximately 1.56 trillion KRW in the past week, recording the largest inflow among local ETF products. This surge is mainly attributed to heightened investor interest in major semiconductor stocks such as SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics, driven by expectations for a memory chip super cycle triggered by demand growth and supply constraints. Various new semiconductor-related ETFs are also launching to capitalize on this investor enthusiasm.
As of Q1 2026, the top five ETFs by returns are centered around nuclear energy and semiconductor themes. The 'TIGER Korea Nuclear Power' ETF stands out with an exceptional 104.13% annual return, underscoring the strong performance of thematic ETFs. Since 2022, total ETF assets under management have increased 4.7 times, from KRW 79 trillion to KRW 374 trillion, propelled by ease of investment and diversification benefits. Experts project that bond, financial sector, dividend, and KOSDAQ-linked ETFs will be particularly promising after Q2 this year. However, they also caution that the rapid expansion of the ETF market has increased overall market volatility in Korea.
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