Mirae Asset Securities crossed 1 trillion won in annual brokerage commission revenue earned from trading customers’ stocks and bonds, marking the first time a Korean securities firm achieved this milestone.
Notably, it drew much attention by overtaking Kiwoom Securities, which has maintained its position as a market leader through online-centric operations, to claim the top spot.
As the market structure has been reorganized thanks to the combined effects of expanded overseas stock trading and a boom in the stock market centered on large-cap stocks, profits for securities firms are growing alongside an increase in capital flowing into stock investments.
According to the Korea Financial Investment Association on March 17, Mirae Asset Securities’ custody fee revenue of last year stood at 1.011 trillion won, a 43.4% increase compared to 2024.
Custody fees are profits earned by securities firms for brokering transactions at the KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets and for trading derivatives, foreign currency securities, and over-the-counter bonds.
Mirae Asset Securities became the first Korean securities firm to record over 1 trillion won in custody fee revenue in one year.
In doing so, the securities firm displaced Kiwoom Securities, which had previously held the top spot in the brokerage market. During the same period, Kiwoom Securities ranked second with 887.8 billion won in custody fees. Although Kiwoom Securities also grew by 24.4% over the year, it was overtaken by Mirae Asset Securities which increased its earnings even faster.
The background behind the significant expansion of custody fees lies in a stock investment boom that persisted last year. At the end of last year, investor deposits stood at 88 trillion won, an increase of 31 trillion won from the beginning of the year
. This represents money held by investors in their securities trading accounts.
This shows a significant increase in the volume of stock trading.
In particular, analysts say that Mirae Asset Securities showed remarkable growth in custody fees, driven primarily by the expansion of overseas stock trading and the performances of large-cap stocks in the KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets.
Based on fourth-quarter earnings in 2025, domestic and overseas revenues accounted for 60% and 40%, respectively, of Mirae Asset Securities’ fee income.
Last year, high expectations for AI-related stocks led to a notable influx of Korean investors into the US NASDAQ market.
Typically, overseas stock trading fees are higher than domestic trading fees, resulting in higher profits for Korean securities firms.
In term
s of custody fees earned from trading in the KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets, Mirae Asset Securities posted the highest profits. The company ranked first in KOSPI and KOSDAQ custody fees last year, totaling 378.7 billion won.
Named Best Investment Bank for 2025
The Korea Exchange evaluated investment banks (IBs) that worked as lead managers in 2025, selected outstanding IBs and held an awards ceremony.
The most notable change in this awards ceremony is the integration of all stock markets which started this year.
According to the Korea Exchange on Mar. 20, the event had previously held separate IB awards for each market — such as the KOSPI, KOSDAQ, and KONEX markets — until 2024.
However, starting from 2025, these were integrated to select a new “integrated best IB” representing the entire Korean stock market.
The evaluation was conducted by comprehensively considering factors such as contribution to the Korean stock market, the excellence of listed companies, and the appropriateness of IB business performances.
As a result, the Korea Exchange selected Mirae Asset Securities as the Korea Exchange Best IB for 2025.
“A lot of efforts made by the Korean IB industry sharpened the competitiveness of the Korean capital market in 2025.” Chairman Jeong Eun-bo said during the awards ceremony.
“This year as well, the Korea Exchange will strive to help the Korean capital market leap forward into a global premium market by strengthening criteria for delisting distressed companies and expanding the listing of innovative technology companies.”
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