Yi Whan-woo is a Korea Times journalist primarily covering finance. He writes in-depth articles on macroeconomy and financial markets and previously covered sports, politics, diplomacy and inter-Korean affairs, among others. Feel free to contact him at yistory@koreatimes.co.kr.
Investors aged 70 and older achieve highest stock market returns
Customers browse books in the stock investment section at Kyobo Book Center in central Seoul, Jan. 11. Yonhap
By Yi Whan-woo
Retail investors aged 70 and older recorded the highest returns among all age groups in the Korean stock market, benefiting from relatively larger funds to invest and gaining more as the rally accelerated, data showed Thursday.
The data, compiled by Mirae Asset Securities, showed that this age group posted gains roughly twice as high as those of investors in their 20s and 30s, who are still early in their careers and building wealth.
The analysis covered 2.4 million customers with a minimum principal of 1 million won ($701) from Jan. 1, 2025 to Jan. 19 this year.
During this period, the benchmark KOSPI rose at the steepest pace among global indices, surpassing 5,000 points, while the secondary bourse Kosdaq also accelerated, breaking the 1,000-point mark for the first time in more than four years.
Among all age groups, investors aged 70 and older achieved an average return of 58.8 percent, followed by those in their 60s at 50.1 percent.
Underage investors, including teens, earned 47.7 percent, while those in their 50s recorded 47 percent, investors in their 40s 41.7 percent, and those in their 20s and 30s 31.1 percent and 30.8 percent, respectively.
“Older adults turned out to be the most profitable, outperforming those in their 20s and 30s by nearly double,” Mirae Asset Securities said.
The company did not provide further details, but market observers noted that customers in their 70s are mostly retirees with larger investment principals than younger investors.
“While individual investors tend to buy large-cap stocks, older investors can buy more of them and subsequently achieve higher gains,” said Jung Eui-jung, head of the Korean Stockholders’ Alliance.
He added that older investors also tend to hold shares for longer periods, avoiding frequent trading, whereas investors in their 20s and 30s often sell to meet living expenses or other needs.
Regarding underage investors, market observers said they are mainly children of wealthy families whose parents invest on their behalf through accounts under their names.