The Best South Korea Equities ETFs
The table below compares the performance and other essential indicators like dividend yield and expense ratio of South Korea Equities ETFs.
South Korea Equities ETFs invest in companies based in South Korea, giving investors focused exposure to one of Asia's most advanced economies. South Korea is a developed market known for its leadership in semiconductors, consumer electronics, automobiles, and shipbuilding, with a handful of large multinational conglomerates dominating the index. These ETFs offer a way to access the South Korean stock market and diversify within the broader Asia Pacific region, though they may carry risks tied to currency fluctuations, geopolitical tensions on the Korean peninsula, and concentration in a small number of large companies.
- Number of ETFs
- 6
- Avg. Expense Ratio
- 0.68%
- Avg. Dividend Yield
- 2.32%
- Avg. 1 Year Return
- 138.53%
- Median Risk/Return Score
- 86 / 100
The Best South Korea Equities ETFs
6 results
| Symbol | Full Name | Category | Inception | Expense Ratio | YTD Return | 10Y Return (Annualized) | Dividend Yield | Risk / Return Rank | Max. Drawdown | Sharpe Ratio | Sortino Ratio | Omega Ratio | Martin Ratio | Calmar Ratio | Ulcer Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares MSCI South Korea ETF | South Korea Equities, Asia Pacific Equities | May 12, 2000 | 0.59% | 67.19% | 13.79% | 1.25% | 87 | ||||||||
| Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF | South Korea Equities, Asia Pacific Equities | Nov 2, 2017 | 0.09% | 66.39% | — | 2.77% | 86 | ||||||||
| PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF | Aerospace & Defense, South Korea Equities | Feb 5, 2025 | 0.65% | -12.39% | — | 7.84% | 10 | ||||||||
| PLUS Korea Manufacturing Core Alliance Index ETF | South Korea Equities | May 6, 2026 | 0.65% | — | — | 0.00% | — | ||||||||
| Direxion Daily MSCI South Korea Bull 3X Shares | South Korea Equities, Leveraged Equities, Asia Pacific Equities | Apr 10, 2013 | 1.32% | 101.15% | 5.03% | 0.43% | 83 | ||||||||
| Matthews Korea Active ETF | South Korea Equities, Asia Pacific Equities | Oct 29, 2010 | 0.79% | 63.73% | — | 1.60% | 88 |
Best South Korea Equities ETFs by Risk/Return Score
The top South Korea Equities ETFs by PortfoliosLab Risk/Return Score are MKOR (88) and EWY (87).
The score measures risk-adjusted performance over the past year, accounting for volatility, drawdown, and return consistency.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthews Korea Active ETF | 88 | 137.63M | Oct 2010 | |
| iShares MSCI South Korea ETF | 87 | 21.85B | May 2000 | |
| Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF | 86 | 1.29B | Nov 2017 | |
| Direxion Daily MSCI South Korea Bull 3X Shares | 83 | 1.58B | Apr 2013 | |
| PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF | 10 | 59.99M | Feb 2025 |
Best-Performing South Korea Equities ETFs Over 5 Years
The top South Korea Equities ETFs is EWY (14.75%).
Across the lineup, South Korea Equities ETFs show an average 1-year return of 138.53% and an average 5-year return of 9.45%, providing a clearer view of performance across different investment horizons.
| Symbol | Name | Return 5Y | AUM | Inception |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares MSCI South Korea ETF | 14.75% | 21.85B | May 2000 | |
| Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF | 14.21% | 1.29B | Nov 2017 | |
| Direxion Daily MSCI South Korea Bull 3X Shares | -0.60% | 1.58B | Apr 2013 |
Lowest-Cost South Korea Equities ETFs
The top South Korea Equities ETFs is FLKR (0.09%).
With an average expense ratio of 0.68%, South Korea Equities ETFs remain a low-cost option for investors seeking broad market exposure, sector allocations, and diversified portfolio building blocks.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF | 0.09% | 1.29B | Nov 2017 | |
| iShares MSCI South Korea ETF | 0.59% | 21.85B | May 2000 | |
| PLUS Korea Manufacturing Core Alliance Index ETF | 0.65% | 1.85M | May 2026 | |
| PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF | 0.65% | 59.99M | Feb 2025 | |
| Matthews Korea Active ETF | 0.79% | 137.63M | Oct 2010 |
Highest-Yield South Korea Equities ETFs
The top South Korea Equities ETFs is KDEF (7.84%).
Across the lineup, South Korea Equities ETFs show an average dividend yield of 2.32%, offering investors a steady stream of income through regular dividend payments, making them attractive for income-seeking portfolios.
| Symbol | Name | Dividend Yield | AUM | Inception |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF | 7.84% | 59.99M | Feb 2025 | |
| Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF | 2.77% | 1.29B | Nov 2017 | |
| Matthews Korea Active ETF | 1.60% | 137.63M | Oct 2010 | |
| iShares MSCI South Korea ETF | 1.25% | 21.85B | May 2000 | |
| Direxion Daily MSCI South Korea Bull 3X Shares | 0.43% | 1.58B | Apr 2013 |
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Top ETFs Comparisons
Compare the top ETFs symbols based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
EWY vs. SPYEWY vs. EWJEWY vs. EWTEWY vs. QQQEWY vs. EWHFLKR vs. SCHDFLKR vs. FLJPFLKR vs. VOOFLKR vs. HFXIFLKR vs. FLXK.DEKORU vs. VOOKORU vs. SOXLKORU vs. QQQKORU vs. TQQQKORU vs. DPSTKDEF vs. SHLD.TOKDEF vs. WARKDEF vs. EUADKDEF vs. NATOKDEF vs. VNMMKOR vs. ADVEMKOR vs. EWAMKOR vs. VPLMKOR vs. VGTMKOR vs. TSM
Risk vs. Return Scatterplot
The Risk vs. Return Scatterplot allows you to quickly compare funds, stocks, and ETFs in one view. It displays the yearly return of an instrument on one axis and the risk (volatility) on the other.
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5 Years