Investors urged to seek $29.3 mil. in unclaimed dividends and other financial assets

The headquarters of Korea Securities Depository in Seoul / Courtesy of KSD

Investors are being encouraged to check for unclaimed dividends and shares worth a combined 43.2 billion won ($29.3 million), associated with over 2 million shares, the Korea Securities Depository (KSD) said Thursday.

The stock deposit service provider’s campaign aims to help shareholders locate their unclaimed financial assets, including 24.95 billion won held by the Korea Inclusive Finance Agency under a law supporting financial access for ordinary citizens.

The 43 billion won comes from “unregistered shares,” which arise when investors withdraw physical share certificates from securities firms but fail to register them in their own name.

Investors typically withdraw shares for safekeeping, for transfer or to put them up as collateral for loans.

While the shares remain legally unregistered, dividends and bonus shares — collectively called entitlements from unregistered shares — are generated but remain unclaimed until shareholders file a claim.

Since 2018, KSD has conducted a campaign to help investors reclaim these assets, and so far has returned about 2.91 billion won to owners of 2.6 million unregistered shares.

The initiative, conducted in collaboration with the Financial Supervisory Service and the Financial Services Commission in 2022 and 2023, seeks to raise public awareness of unclaimed financial assets.

KSD emphasized that investors should actively check whether they have unclaimed dividends.

“Investors who have ever withdrawn physical share certificates can check for unclaimed entitlements via the KSD website,” the agency said.

“By entering certificate details such as company name, issue series, class and certificate number, investors can determine whether they are entitled to dividends or bonus shares.”

Claims can be filed through the securities firm that handled the withdrawal.

For listed companies, claims can also be filed through the company’s transfer agent, including KSD, KB Kookmin Bank and Hana Bank.

“We will continue to monitor unclaimed financial assets, especially those associated with physical share withdrawals from past years,” KSD said. “With significant funds and millions of shares at stake, investors are urged not to let these entitlements remain forgotten.”