Foreign investors smash South Korean equity sell-off record in June

Net outflows hit 49.3 trillion won, decimating the previous May record and extending a five-month streak of divestment from Seoul markets.

By Handelsavisen Newsroom · Automated 2026-07-30 21:04 UTC · 1 min read

Foreign investors offloaded a record net 49.34 trillion won ($33.8 billion) of South Korean equities in June, shattering the previous monthly high set just one month prior.

The data, released Friday, reveals an acceleration in capital flight from Seoul’s stock market as offshore funds engaged in aggressive profit-taking.

7 trillion won ($3.3 billion) recorded in May, according to Yonhap.

The June figure is more than ten times the record net sell-off of 4.7 trillion won ($3.3 billion) recorded in May, according to Yonhap.

This unprecedented scale of divestment marks the fifth consecutive month of net outflows, underscoring a sustained loss of confidence among international holders of Korean assets.

The sheer magnitude of the June outflow suggests that foreign positioning has shifted decisively against Korean equities.

With profit-taking cited as the primary driver, the data points to a broader risk-off sentiment or a strategic rotation away from emerging Asian markets.