Asset Managers Hit Record High with 1.4 Trillion Won in Q1 Net Profit

Asset management firms achieved their highest-ever performance in the first quarter, recording a net profit of 1.4664 trillion won. This strong performance was driven by a bullish stock market, which saw the KOSPI index rise from the 7,000 to 9,000 mark, boosting overall profitability across the industry.

During the first quarter, asset management firms generated a total of 1.8931 trillion won in fee income, with 1.4614 trillion won specifically from fund management fees and 431.6 billion won from investment advisory and discretionary management contracts. Additionally, they earned an extra 319.6 billion won from investment gains on securities under management.

Assets under management (AUM) as of the end of March reached a record high of 2,355.7 trillion won, a 7.6% increase from the end of the previous year. The overall return on equity (ROE) for all asset management firms stood at 31.0%.

Out of a total of 511 asset management firms, 319 (62.4%) recorded profits, while the ratio of loss-making companies rose to 37.6%, up 5.3 percentage points from the previous quarter. The loss ratio for public offering managers (77 firms) was 15.6%, while that for private offering managers (434 firms) was 41.5%.

The Financial Supervisory Service stated that it will closely monitor market concentration related to recent stock index surges and the soundness of asset management firms, as the fund market reorganizes around ETFs, leading to continued concentration with large firms and excessive competition. The Financial Supervisory Service announced the '2026 Q1 Asset Management Company Business Performance (Preliminary)' on the 22nd.