KOSPI 200 ETFs Soar Past Bank Deposits by 40-Fold

KOSPI 200 ETFs have topped this year's investment returns in South Korea, outperforming bank deposits by a significant margin. According to data from Daishin Securities, KODEX200, which tracks the KOSPI 200 index, rose from ₩60,460 (approximately $45) on January 2 to ₩109,285 (approximately $81) as of September 20, delivering an impressive 80.76% return.

This outperformance is particularly notable when compared with bank deposits, which offered a pro-rated return of just 1.99% over the same period. KODEX200's return was approximately 40.6 times higher than that of bank deposits, highlighting the strong performance of index-tracking ETFs in the South Korean market.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures were a close second, with prices climbing from $57.41 per barrel to $96.08 over the same period, a 67.36% increase. By contrast, overseas equities significantly underperformed the South Korean market, with the SPY ETF, which tracks the U.S. S&P 500 index, gaining just 11.08%.