Why did foreign investors return to net buying of Korean stocks in August?

The article says the rebound came after seven months of sell-offs, even as extended geopolitical risks and worries over AI profitability remained. It does not attribute the buying to a single trigger, only that offshore investors became net buyers again.

How much did foreign investors buy and sell in Korea’s stock and bond markets in August?

They bought a net 340 billion won worth of local stocks, but sold a net 3.94 trillion won worth of local debt. That left them with 2,281 trillion won in stock holdings and 330 trillion won in Korean bond holdings at month-end.

Which countries were the biggest foreign buyers of Korean stocks in August?

Investors from the United States were the top buyers, purchasing a net 13.4 trillion won worth of local stocks. Ireland followed with 3.2 trillion won of buying.

Foreigners snap 7-month sell-offs of Korean stocks in August

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Summary

Foreign investors ended seven straight months of net selling of Korean stocks in August, buying a net 340 billion won amid extended geopolitical risks and concerns over AI profitability. Their purchases lifted offshore holdings of local stocks to 2,281 trillion won, or 34.8 percent of total market capitalization. Investors from the United States were the biggest buyers, followed by Ireland. In the bond market, foreign investors sold a net 3.94 trillion won of local debt, and their Korean bond holdings fell to 330 trillion won.

Key Facts

Offshore investors bought a net 340 billion won worth of local stocks in August, according to data from the Financial Supervisory Service.
Foreign investors held 2,281 trillion won worth of local stocks at the end of August, equal to 34.8 percent of total market capitalization.
Investors from the United States bought a net 13.4 trillion won worth of Korean stocks in August, while investors from Ireland bought 3.2 trillion won.
Foreign investors sold a net 3.94 trillion won worth of local debt last month.
Their holdings of Korean bonds stood at 330 trillion won as of the end of August, accounting for 11.4 percent of listed bonds in Korea.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 18, 2026 8:32 am KST

Financial data is shown on a screen inside the dealing room of Hana Bank in central Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

Foreign investors ended their seven-month sell-offs of Korean stocks in August amid extended geopolitical risks and woes over artificial intelligence (AI) profitability, data showed Friday.

Offshore investors scooped up a net 340 billion won ($246 million) worth of local stocks last month, snapping their selling binge for seven consecutive months, according to the data from the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS).

Following their net purchases in August, offshore investors owned 2,281 trillion won worth of local stocks, or 34.8 percent of total market capitalization.

By country, investors from the United States were the top buyers in August by purchasing a net 13.4 trillion won, followed by Ireland with 3.2 trillion won of buying, the latest findings showed.

In the local bond market, foreign investors sold a net 3.94 trillion won worth of local debt last month.

Their holdings of Korean bonds stood at 330 trillion won as of end-August, accounting for 11.4 percent of listed bonds here, the FSS revealed.

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