South Korea’s major brokerage houses achieved record profits last year due to a strong performance in the local stock market. The combined net profit of the country’s 27 securities firms reached 10.23 trillion won in 2025, a significant increase from the previous year’s 6.97 trillion won.
Leading the pack was Korea Investment & Securities Co., which reported a net income of 2.01 trillion won, marking a 79 percent rise from the previous year. Mirae Asset Securities Co. followed closely with a net profit of 1.59 trillion won, while Kiwoom Investment & Securities Co., NH Investment & Securities Co., and Samsung Securities Co. also posted impressive net profits.
These remarkable earnings were fueled in part by commission fees generated from heightened trading activity in local stocks by retail investors. The average daily turnover in the local stock market surged by 57 percent in 2025, reaching 16.9 trillion won, indicating a positive trend for the brokerage firms.
Analysts anticipate further growth in the brokerage firms’ profits as the daily turnover is expected to continue its upward trajectory. Projections suggest that the daily turnover could potentially reach 45 trillion won this year, reflecting the positive momentum of South Korea’s stock market.
The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) saw a remarkable surge of over 75 percent last year and has already advanced by around 30 percent this year. Notably, in January alone, the average daily turnover hit 62 trillion won, showcasing the market’s robust activity.
In a related development, South Korea’s main bourse operator reported that its value-up index reached an all-time high at the end of last month. The Korea Exchange’s (KRX) value-up index stood at 2,330.7 as of end-January, marking a 134.9 percent increase from its introduction in September 2024. This index, comprising 100 companies demonstrating strong performance in various qualitative metrics, outperformed the broader benchmark KOSPI during the same period.
