South Korean Retail Investors See Majority Gains in 2025 Stock Rally

Seven out of ten South Korean retail investors locked in profits from stock sales between January and November 2025, capitalizing on a sustained KOSPI rally. Shinhan Securities data reveals 67% of individual sellers netted average gains of 9.12 million won ($6,165), while the remaining 33% absorbed losses averaging 6.85 million won ($4,630).

The profit distribution skews toward modest wins: 54.4% of successful investors pocketed ≤1 million won ($676), 32.3% gained 1-10 million won ($675-$6,750), and 13.3% cleared >10 million won. Losses followed a similar pattern—58.1% stayed under 1 million won, 30.1% ranged 1-10 million won, and 12.9% exceeded 10 million won.

Samsung Electronics emerged as the most polarized trade. 81.4% of sellers secured 2.5 million won ($1,690) average profits, while 18.6% bled 1 million won ($675) per loss. The figures coincide with foreign investors’ November withdrawals, suggesting retail traders picked up the slack.