Kiwoom Securities Enters Retirement Pension Market, Intensifying Competition Among Firms

Kiwoom Securities, a name familiar to retail investors, will enter the retirement pension market in the first half of 2026. The company completed its registration as a retirement pension provider on April 8, 2026, and is preparing to launch its services within the first half of the year.

Its status as a retail powerhouse, holding a 27.8% share of the domestic stock market, is drawing significant market attention. Kiwoom Securities aims to break into the 'top five' of the retirement pension market share, planning to initially target the Individual Retirement Pension (IRP) market by leveraging its retail strength and digital platform capabilities.

With Kiwoom Securities' entry, the rivalry among other securities firms already competing to attract retirement pension accounts is expected to intensify further.

In the past three years, Mirae Asset Securities has maintained the top position in the securities firm retirement pension market, followed by Samsung Securities, Korea Investment & Securities, and Hyundai Motor Securities. The top four firms' combined share of retirement pension assets has hovered around 75% for the last three years.

Kiwoom Securities' addition to the retirement pension market poses a challenge, particularly for mid- to lower-tier securities firms. The anticipated focus on the IRP market is set to bring about changes in the competitiveness of existing IRP-centric providers.