South Korea ETF Market Shifts to U.S. Focus: 50% of July Launches Target American Assets

According to Korea Exchange data released on July 8, South Korea's ETF market strategy is shifting decisively toward U.S. markets. Of 10 ETF products launching or scheduled for launch in July, 5 are U.S.-focused—a dramatic reversal from the first half of 2026, when domestic investment products outnumbered overseas offerings 71 to 23.

U.S.-targeted ETFs have expanded beyond index tracking to specialized themes including AI infrastructure, space technology, robotics, big tech, and bond-equity combinations. Simultaneously, domestic asset managers are strengthening Korea-focused offerings in defense and biotech sectors to retain market share amid volatility in KOSPI and KOSDAQ indices.