KF vs. EWY
Compare and contrast key facts about The Korea Fund Inc (KF) and iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY).
KF is managed by Allianz Global Investors. It was launched on Aug 29, 1984. EWY is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI Korea Index. It was launched on May 12, 2000.
Performance
KF vs. EWY - Performance Comparison
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KF vs. EWY - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KF The Korea Fund Inc | 23.62% | 99.36% | -19.29% | 12.34% | -30.02% | 8.44% | 37.14% | 6.83% | -19.26% | 42.50% |
EWY iShares MSCI South Korea ETF | 26.53% | 95.33% | -20.48% | 19.05% | -26.59% | -7.58% | 39.43% | 7.97% | -20.37% | 44.97% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, KF achieves a 23.62% return, which is significantly lower than EWY's 26.53% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with KF having a 11.09% annualized return and EWY not far behind at 11.06%.
KF
- 1D
- 5.25%
- 1M
- -21.48%
- YTD
- 23.62%
- 6M
- 48.61%
- 1Y
- 127.72%
- 3Y*
- 28.44%
- 5Y*
- 9.28%
- 10Y*
- 11.09%
EWY
- 1D
- 5.65%
- 1M
- -18.74%
- YTD
- 26.53%
- 6M
- 57.02%
- 1Y
- 132.74%
- 3Y*
- 29.24%
- 5Y*
- 8.53%
- 10Y*
- 11.06%
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KF vs. EWY - Expense Ratio Comparison
KF has a 0.02% expense ratio, which is lower than EWY's 0.59% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
KF vs. EWY — Risk / Return Rank
KF
EWY
KF vs. EWY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for The Korea Fund Inc (KF) and iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| KF | EWY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 3.84 | 3.68 | +0.16 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 4.03 | 3.87 | +0.16 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.59 | 1.55 | +0.04 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.95 | 5.61 | -0.66 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 21.60 | 22.88 | -1.28 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| KF | EWY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.84 | 3.68 | +0.16 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.37 | 0.32 | +0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.45 | 0.42 | +0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.07 | 0.27 | -0.20 |
Correlation
The correlation between KF and EWY is 0.83, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
KF vs. EWY - Dividend Comparison
KF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.97%, less than EWY's 1.66% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KF The Korea Fund Inc | 0.97% | 1.20% | 2.46% | 0.00% | 15.93% | 26.50% | 1.30% | 0.24% | 18.67% | 9.75% | 1.03% | 13.66% |
EWY iShares MSCI South Korea ETF | 1.66% | 2.10% | 2.55% | 2.52% | 1.23% | 2.16% | 0.73% | 2.10% | 1.34% | 2.90% | 1.21% | 2.42% |
Drawdowns
KF vs. EWY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum KF drawdown since its inception was -94.60%, which is greater than EWY's maximum drawdown of -74.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for KF and EWY.
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Drawdown Indicators
| KF | EWY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -94.60% | -74.14% | -20.46% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -25.42% | -23.08% | -2.34% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -47.62% | -48.55% | +0.93% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -52.91% | -49.73% | -3.18% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -60.22% | -18.74% | -41.48% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -60.91% | -20.23% | -40.68% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.82% | 5.66% | +0.16% |
Volatility
KF vs. EWY - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for The Korea Fund Inc (KF) is 19.95%, while iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY) has a volatility of 22.66%. This indicates that KF experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than EWY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| KF | EWY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 19.95% | 22.66% | -2.71% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 28.18% | 31.11% | -2.93% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 33.44% | 36.32% | -2.88% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.98% | 26.61% | -1.63% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 24.61% | 26.19% | -1.58% |