Foreign access to Korean stock markets

In July 2026 two related developments expanded foreign investors’ ability to trade South Korean equities without opening a local account.

Hana Securities announced a partnership with Hong‑Kong‑based Futu Securities to launch a foreign‑integrated account service. The platform lets non‑resident investors place orders and settle Korean stock trades through their home broker, a capability that moved from a pilot to full rollout on 24 April. Hana plans to broaden the offering by adding Hong Kong’s Citic Securities and U.S. firm Wedbush Securities.

Separately, Futu Securities International introduced its own Korean‑stock trading service for Hong Kong investors, covering more than 2,700 KOSPI and KOSDAQ listings. The service permits orders using existing U.S.–dollar balances, includes pre‑market auction trading, and offers advanced order types such as trailing‑stop losses and AI‑driven analysis. The launch follows South Korea’s Omnibus Account Guidelines, which allow overseas brokers to provide compliant market access. A sister brand, Moomoo, is extending the same service to Singapore.

Together, these initiatives illustrate a rapid push to attract overseas capital to Korea’s equity markets by simplifying cross‑border trading and expanding platform coverage.