July Cash Dividends by Listed Companies Surge 17%…‘Efforts to Reward Shareholders Continue’

Ninety companies listed on the Korea Exchange have decided to pay a total of KRW 7.4 trillion in cash dividends to shareholders for July 2026, marking a 17% increase from the same period last year. Financial holding companies and some major conglomerates strengthened shareholder returns through treasury share acquisitions and cancellations alongside cash dividends. Four financial holding companies, including Shinhan Financial Group and KB Financial Group, decided to acquire a total of KRW 1.8 trillion in treasury shares, while Naver and Mirae Asset Securities decided to cancel KRW 1 trillion and KRW 500 billion worth of existing treasury shares, respectively.

As participation in the Corporate Value-up Program expands, the cumulative number of disclosing companies reached 747, accounting for 84.6% of total market capitalization. The Value-up Index rose 75.9% over the past year, hitting an all-time high in June 2026. Consequently, the net assets of Value-up-related ETFs reached KRW 3.4 trillion, exerting a positive influence on market sentiment.

The Korea Exchange plans to hold explanatory sessions in six regions nationwide in September to provide guidance on drafting corporate value-up plans and offering disclosure support consulting.