Semiconductor and AI-Themed ETFs Drive Volatility and Growth in Domestic and Global Markets
In 2024, the Korean ETF market experienced record inflows, with assets under management increasing by KRW 134.2 trillion compared to last year. Funds concentrated heavily in major semiconductor stocks such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, fueling dramatic share price gains and amplifying market synergy. This concentration has heightened industry volatility, particularly as new leverage and inverse ETFs focused on single names are set to launch, raising concerns about risk exposure. Regulatory authorities have emphasized the need for enhanced investor education and risk oversight.
Korea Investment Management’s 'ACE Google Value Chain Active' ETF surpassed KRW 250 billion in assets, driven by a portfolio focusing on the Google AI ecosystem. This active ETF invests in key AI semiconductor players including Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and Micron, and recently achieved a stellar 164% annual return. Hanwha Asset Management’s 'PLUS KOSPI50' ETF, with a high weighting in Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, also significantly outperformed the KOSPI200, highlighting the advantages of blue-chip-heavy portfolios in a strong earnings environment.
Globally, semiconductor-focused leverage ETFs listed in Hong Kong for Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have become the world's largest single-stock leveraged and inverse ETFs by AUM. In the US, open interest in iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY) call options reached a record high, reflecting strong global investor appetite and optimism for Korea’s semiconductor sector. Meanwhile, thematic ETFs in AI and power infrastructure attracted strong returns and continued attention.
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[Dongjipjagak] Single Stock Leverage ETF: A 'Double-Edged Sword' - Seoul Economic Daily'-79.49%.' This is the return rate of the 'KIWOOM200 Futures Inverse 2X' ETF, which ranked high in decline rates this year. If you had invested 10 million won, only about 2 million won would be left. Due to the nature of such products, which bet twice on decline, they tend to fall more sharply than inverse ETFs that track prices inversely.
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[ETF of the Week] KB Asset Management 'RISE AI Power Infrastructure' rises over 24%, top in growth rate, driven by strong power equipment[ETF of the Week] KB Asset Management 'RISE AI Power Infrastructure' rises over 24%, top in growth rate, driven by strong power equipment
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"More than Tesla's 2x Leverage"... SK Hynix Leverage ETF Becomes World No. 1 [This Kind of Stock, That Kind of Stock] - Seoul EconomicsThe SK Hynix leverage exchange-traded fund (ETF), which is listed on the Hong Kong stock market, has become the largest single-stock leverage/inverse ETF in the world. The Samsung Electronics leverage ETF also entered the global top 10, indicating that global funds are concentrating on leverage products based on domestic semiconductor stocks.
"Agile Response": How Was the Performance of Hanwha Investment & Securities' ACE Google Value Chain Active ETF - DailyAnnAs interest in the AI value chain grows, Korea Investment Management's Google Value Chain-related ETF is attracting investor attention. Hanwha Investment & Securities reported on the 8th that the net asset value of the ACE Google Value Chain Active ETF surpassed 250 billion won as of the previous day. This ETF is the only domestically listed ETF investing in Google's proprietary AI ecosystem value chain. According to Hanwha Investment & Securities, "Last year
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뉴스핌24 hours ago
Hanwha Asset Management's 'PLUS KOSPI50' Index Tracking ETF Ranks 1st in 6-month & 1-year Returns - Newspim[Seoul=Newspim] Reporter Kim Ga-hee - Hanwha Asset Management announced on the 8th that its 'PLUS KOSPI50' ETF, which tracks the KOSPI index, ranked first in cumulative returns over the recent 6-month and 1-year periods among similar ETFs. According to the Korea Exchange Information Data System, as of the 6th,
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뉴스핌2026 5月 08
Hantu Asset Management's 'ACE Google Value Chain Active' Surpasses 250 Billion Won in Net Assets - NewsPim[Seoul=NewsPim] Reporter Kim Ga-hee = Korea Investment Management announced on the 8th that their 'ACE Google Value Chain Active' ETF, which invests in Google's proprietary AI ecosystem value chain, has exceeded 250 billion won in net assets. According to the Korea Exchange,
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Hanwha Asset Management 'PLUS KOSPI50' ranks first in returns among KOSPI-tracking ETFs - Financial NewsHanwha Asset Management's 'PLUS KOSPI50' Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) is delivering high performance with a portfolio focusing on major domestic stocks. According to the Korea Exchange Information Data System on the 8th, 'PLUS KOSPI50' ranked first in cumulative returns over the recent 6-month and 1-year periods among the KOSPI-tracking ETFs (leveraged/inverse…)
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Behind the Surge of Sanjeonix, There Was 'This'... A Place That Attracted 240 Trillion Won [Analysis+]Behind the Surge of Sanjeonix, There Was This... A Place That Attracted 240 Trillion Won, Surpassing Last Year's Figure in Four Months. There was an ETF Behind the Sanjeonix Concentration. ETF Set-Up Amount Increased by 134 Trillion Won This Year. Most Likely Focused on Semiconductors, Increasing Volatility Due to Semiconductor ETF Concentration.
"Surpassed Last Year's Total in Just Four Months"… Behind the Samsung-NX Chip Dominance, There Was an ETF [Analysis+]Surpassed Last Year's Total in Just Four Months… Behind the Samsung-NX Chip Dominance, There Was an ETF. Since the beginning of the year, ETF set-up amounts have surged by 134 trillion, likely concentrated in semiconductors, increasing volatility due to semiconductor ETF concentration.
Intense Competition in Semiconductor Monthly Dividend ETFs…Samsung Vs. Mirae, Investor's Choice - DailyanSemiconductor 'covered call' exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that allow investment in semiconductor growth while also expecting monthly dividends are gaining attention as attractive investment venues. Amid this atmosphere, Samsung Asset Management and Mirae Asset Management are targeting investors with contrasting strategies. Samsung Asset Management pursues a 'stable distribution', while Mirae Asset Management follows an 'aggressive distribution' strategy. According to the Korea Exchange, on the 12th, Samsung Asset Management's '
NH-Amundi Asset Management publishes May ETF report…AI strategic asset investment in focus - EtodayNH-Amundi Asset Management announced on the 8th that it has published the May 'HANARO ETF Monthly Report'. The report is available on the HANARO ETF website at the beginning of each month.
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뉴스핌2026 5月 08
Korean ETF Call Options Hit Record $5.6 Billion in US…Unprecedented Bet on Korean Semiconductors - NewsPim[Seoul=NewsPim] Reporter Yang Tae-hoon reports that the notional open interest of call options on the iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY), a major exchange-traded fund tracking the Korean stock market, surpassed $5.6 billion (approximately 8 trillion Korean won) on the New York market, reaching an all-time high.
'Imminent Launch' of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix 2x ETF...Financial Authorities Focus on Spreading 'Negative Compounding Effect' - Yonhap InfomaxA leveraged exchange-traded fund (ETF) based on Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix is set to launch on the 22nd. Financial authorities are concentrating on the potential impact of a single-stock leveraged ETF tracking the top two companies by market cap in Korea. They view this as a concern because it is the first attempt at a single-stock leverage in Korea and Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix represent about 40% of the KOSPI. With the KOSPI currently exceeding 7,000, there are concerns that the Samsung and Hynix leverage ETF could inadvertently trigger increased market volatility and amplify side effects.