South Korean ETFs surge over 100% YTD driven by tech dominance and a weaker won.

South Korea's financial markets have surged in 2024, with several ETFs gaining over 100% year-to-date, fueled by the country's dominance in high bandwidth memory (HBM) chips and a weaker won that boosts export competitiveness. Major companies like Samsung and SK Hynix hold near-monopolies in HBM, critical for AI and data centers, driving strong demand. Regulatory reforms improving shareholder returns and capital allocation have further attracted investors. Goldman Sachs forecasts a 300% earnings growth for South Korea's KOSPI index by 2026, signaling continued growth potential.