South Korea’s per capita household net worth surged by more than 9% in 2025, driven mainly by rises in securities and real estate prices.

Data released by the Bank of Korea on Wednesday shows that driven by rising housing and securities prices, South Korea’s per capita household net worth reached 274.7 million won (approximately $185,600) in 2025, growing by over 9% year-on-year. This growth rate marked a significant jump from the 3% recorded in 2024. In 2025, South Korea’s stock market delivered the strongest performance among Asian markets: the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) surged nearly 76% for the full year, its largest gain since 1999, far outperforming the S&P 500’s roughly 17% rise and the MSCI Asia Pacific Index’s around 25% increase. The core driver behind this historic rally was the cyclical recovery of the global semiconductor industry. Semiconductor giants like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix—pillars of South Korea’s economy—exerted significant influence on the broader market via their earnings and stock performance. The chief Asia Pacific strategist at Goldman Sachs previously noted that the end of semiconductor inventory destocking, combined with a new demand cycle driven by artificial intelligence, has brought strong earnings recovery expectations for South Korean tech stocks, serving as the core engine pushing the KOSPI upward.