# South Korean ETF market regulatory impact > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/south-korean-etf-market-regulatory-impact > Updated: 2026-10-21T05:21:12.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 4. In late September 2026, the South Korean ETF market experienced a significant shift in trading activity driven by regulatory changes. Initially, data from the Korea Exchange showed a divergence in strategies: foreign investors favored leverage products like ‘KODEX Leverage’ to bet on market gains, while individual investors utilized inverse products to hedge against volatility. Following the implementation of stricter financial regulations, trading volume for single-stock leverage and inverse ETFs plummeted by approximately 92%. This decline followed an increase in basic deposit requirements, which rose from 10 million won to 30 million won in cash. Consequently, the average daily trading value for 16 specific ETF types fell from 12.25 trillion won to 990 billion won. As a result of these requirements, individual investors transitioned from net buying to net selling. While the drop in volume indicates a cooling of high-risk trading, analysts have raised concerns regarding a ‘balloon effect,’ where demand may migrate to unregulated or less restricted financial products. By early October, regulatory efforts to curb market overheating expanded. The Financial Services Commission is preparing to increase the minimum trading unit for single-stock leverage ETFs from one share to 20 shares. To assist investors holding between one and 19 shares, authorities are considering allowing these ‘odd lots’ to be sold via after-hours closing price trading for a set period. Market data suggests volatility is subsiding; the combined market capitalization of the 16 ETF products in question has fallen from a June peak of 16.5 trillion won to between 6 and 7 trillion won. During a National Assembly audit, lawmakers criticized these products, with some alleging they caused approximately 54 trillion won in losses to individual investors. Concerns regarding the ‘balloon effect’ have intensified as authorities monitor the rise of offshore perpetual futures trading on global cryptocurrency platforms. ## Claims - The Financial Services Commission will announce detailed plans next month regarding the expansion of trading units for single-stock leverage ETFs to 20 shares. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Authorities are considering allowing investors holding fewer than 20 shares to sell those odd lots through after-hours closing price trading for a limited period. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The combined market capitalization of 16 single-stock leverage ETF products peaked at 16.5 trillion won on June 25. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The KOSPI 200 volatility index (VKOSPI) dropped from a peak of 96.9% on June 29 to 41.0% by early August. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The basic deposit requirement for single-stock leverage products was increased from 10 million won to 30 million won in cash. (single source) - Single-stock leverage ETFs caused approximately 54 trillion won in losses to individual investors due to amplified volatility. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-21: South Korean retail investors lose 6.3 trillion won in single-stock ETPs South Korean retail investors lost 6.3 trillion won in single-stock leverage ETPs between May and August, with the 40-50 age group accounting for over 62% of the total losses. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korean-retail-investors-lose-63-trillion-won-in-single-stock-etps ### 2026-10-14: South Korean regulators monitor high-leverage offshore stock futures South Korean regulators are monitoring high-leverage offshore perpetual futures trading on crypto platforms that allow 24-hour trading of Korean stocks like SK Hynix with up to 200x leverage. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korean-regulators-monitor-high-leverage-offshore-stock-futures ### 2026-10-06: South Korea to expand single-stock leverage ETF trading units to 20 shares South Korean regulators plan to increase the minimum trading unit for single-stock leverage ETFs to 20 shares to reduce volatility, while considering exit options for investors holding smaller amounts. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korea-to-expand-single-stock-leverage-etf-trading-units-to-20-shares ### 2026-09-27: South Korean single-stock leverage ETF trading volume drops 92% South Korean single-stock leverage ETF trading volume fell 92% after deposit requirements were raised from 10 million to 30 million won, according to recent market data. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korean-single-stock-leverage-etf-trading-volume-drops-92 --- Cite as: South Korean ETF market regulatory impact. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/south-korean-etf-market-regulatory-impact