Name

Korea Exchange

Legal name

Korea Exchange (한국거래소)

Website

https://krx.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Korea Exchange (KRX) operates South Korea's sole statutory securities, derivatives, and commodities exchange, serving 2,777 listed companies, domestic and foreign investors across KOSPI, KOSDAQ, KONEX, and derivatives markets with AI-powered surveillance and clearing infrastructure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Securities Exchange / Capital Markets Infrastructure

NAICS

Securities and Commodity Exchanges (523210), Securities and Commodity Exchanges (5232), Securities and Commodity Exchanges (52321), Commodity Contracts Intermediation (52316), Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage (5231), Commodity Contracts Intermediation (523160)

SIC

Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200), Commodity Contracts Brokers & Dealers (6221)

akta.pro primary industry

Centralized Crypto Exchanges (CEX) (FSAPADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Market Surveillance & Trade Monitoring (Crypto) (FSADALAG)

Keywords

• Securities exchange operations
• Equity derivatives trading
• Market data services
• Clearing settlement infrastructure
• Market surveillance systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Busan

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Korea Exchange (KRX) operates South Korea's unified securities and derivatives exchange infrastructure, including the KOSPI main board, KOSDAQ growth-company market, and KONEX small-cap market. It provides trading venues for equities, equity derivatives (index and single-stock futures/options), ETFs/ETNs/ELWs, bonds, currency products, and commodities (gold, oil, emissions allowances), along with clearing and settlement, market data distribution, listing/disclosure services, and AI-powered market surveillance.

Product overview

Korea Exchange (KRX) operates South Korea's unified securities and derivatives exchange, combining the former KOSPI, KOSDAQ, and KONEX markets into a single platform. The exchange offers equity trading (KOSPI main board, KOSDAQ for growth companies, KONEX for small-caps), equity derivatives (KOSPI 200, KOSDAQ 150, single-stock futures and options with weekly expiries planned), bond markets, commodity markets (gold, oil, emissions allowances), and listed securities products (ETFs, ETNs, ELWs, including single-stock leveraged ETFs launched in 2026). Supporting infrastructure includes the KRX Data Marketplace for market data, KIND for corporate disclosures, AI-powered market surveillance, and clearing/settlement services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KOSPI (Korea Composite Stock Price Index) Market South Korea's main stock market tracking all common stocks listed on the Korea Exchange. Serves large-cap companies including Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor, and LG Energy Solution.
• KOSDAQ Market South Korea's alternative stock market for high-growth companies, providing an equity-listing and trading venue modeled on NASDAQ.
• KONEX Market Small-cap market for emerging and early-stage companies, providing listing opportunities for ventures not meeting KOSPI or KOSDAQ requirements.
• KOSPI 200 Futures and Options Derivatives products based on the KOSPI 200 index, South Korea's main equity derivatives benchmark for institutional and retail hedging and speculation.
• KOSDAQ 150 Futures and Options Derivatives products based on the KOSDAQ 150 index for the alternative market segment.
• Single-Stock Futures and Options Individual stock futures and options contracts for major blue-chip stocks including Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor, and LG Energy Solution, with weekly single-stock options planned.
• Single-Stock Leveraged ETFs Listed exchange-traded funds tracking various indices, sectors, and themes including single-stock leveraged ETFs tracking Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.
• ETNs (Exchange-Traded Notes) Unsecured debt instruments listed on the exchange offering returns linked to underlying indexes or strategies.
• ELWs (Exchange-Traded Warrants) Derivative securities giving holders the right to buy or sell underlying assets at specified prices.
• KRX Gold Market Spot gold trading market allowing investors to trade gold through securities accounts at brokerage firms.
• KRX Oil Market Electronic petroleum products trading market for imported oil products.
• K-ETS (Korea Emissions Allowance Trading) Carbon emissions trading market to help Korean companies hedge against long-term price volatility in allowances.
• KRX Data Marketplace Comprehensive market data distribution platform providing access to exchange data products and analytics for institutional and retail data consumers.
• KIND (Korea Investment Disclosure Network) Listing disclosure system for companies to submit regulatory filings and disclosures as required by capital market regulations.
• AI Capital Market Monitoring System AI-powered real-time monitoring system for detecting market irregularities, corporate wrongdoings (embezzlement and fraud), and anomalous trading patterns on KRX markets.
• HKEX KRX Semiconductor Index Cross-border benchmark index jointly launched with HKEX tracking 30 leading chipmakers from Korea and Hong Kong, designed to support ETF Connect trading between the two markets.
• Hang Seng KRX HK-Korea Index Series Co-branded cross-market index series combining benchmarks from Hong Kong and Korea across four themes: large-cap equities, technology and semiconductors, technology leaders, and biotech and healthcare.
• After-Hours Trading Market Extended-hours trading session from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., expanding KRX trading availability beyond standard market hours.
• Clearing and Settlement Services Central counterparty clearing and settlement infrastructure for trades executed across KRX's equities, derivatives, and commodities markets, with a planned T+2 to T+1 settlement transition roadmap for October 2026.
• Tokenized Securities Framework (STO) Security token offering (STO) business operator platform approved by the Financial Services Commission, enabling legally binding tokenized securities issuance and trading in South Korea.

Quantifiable outcome

• 76 illegal short-selling cases detected through real-time monitoring system in one year
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2026KRX and HKEX jointly launched the HKEX KRX Semiconductor Index, a cross-border benchmark tracking 30 leading chipmakers from Korea and Hong Kong with 40/60 weighting split. The index was developed to meet ETF Connect requirements and capitalize on growing AI-driven demand for Korean chipmakers among mainland Chinese and international investors, with trading volume under the scheme reaching 1.4 trillion won.
• Hang Seng Indexes CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2026Hang Seng Indexes Company and Korea Exchange launched the Hang Seng KRX HK-Korea Index Series, a co-branded cross-market index combining benchmarks from both markets. The inaugural series comprises four indexes covering large-cap equities, technology and semiconductors, technology leaders, and biotech and healthcare.
• Morgan StanleyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKRX chairman attended global roadshow co-hosted with Morgan Stanley with approximately 50 institutional investors to promote South Korea's capital market reforms including recent revisions to the Capital Markets Act.
• Asian and Oceanian Stock Exchanges FederationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKRX Chairman Jeong Eun-bo attended general meeting of Asian and Oceanian Stock Exchanges Federation in Hong Kong, discussing ways to increase competitiveness of capital markets among member countries.
• Seoul Investment Promotion FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKRX co-hosted seminar with Seoul Investment Promotion Foundation at BIO USA 2026 in San Diego, explaining KOSDAQ listing procedures and IPO-related systems to global biotech executives.
• Korean Ministry of Climate, Energy and EnvironmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKorean Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and KRX are hosting roundtable and signing MOU with Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Research Center and Koscom to develop IT infrastructure for an emissions allowance futures market (K-ETS futures).

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX): Operates Hong Kong's primary securities and derivatives exchanges and clearing houses. Direct peer to KRX as a national exchange operator with cross-border index partnerships (HKEX KRX Semiconductor Index) and competing for regional capital flows.
• Japan Exchange Group (JPX): Operates Tokyo Stock Exchange and Osaka Exchange covering cash equities, derivatives, and clearing. Comparable Asian exchange operator with overlapping equity/derivatives product set and similar regulatory monopoly structure to KRX.
• Singapore Exchange (SGX): Singapore's primary exchange operator across equities, derivatives, and fixed income. Comparable multi-asset venue with strong derivatives franchise and listed in APAC for cross-border benchmarks.
• Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE): Taiwan's main securities exchange with a heavy semiconductor concentration similar to KRX's KOSPI. Comparable national exchange with derivatives market and competing for Greater China and Northeast Asian capital flows.

Regional players

• Bursa Malaysia: Malaysia's primary exchange offering equities, derivatives, and Islamic securities. Comparable emerging Asia exchange operator but operating in a different national market than KRX.

Broad incumbents

• Nasdaq, Inc. Operates Nasdaq's US cash equity exchange plus Nordic exchanges and a global market technology / surveillance business. Comparable as a multi-asset exchange operator with technology product extensions analogous to KRX's Fair Labs AI monitoring.
• Intercontinental Exchange (ICE): Operates major US/European exchanges (NYSE listed), futures markets, and clearing houses. Comparable in operating exchanges/clearing infrastructure across multiple asset classes including commodities and fixed income.
• London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG): Operates London Stock Exchange, Borsa Italiana, Turquoise, and global index/data businesses (FTSE Russell). Comparable as a vertically integrated exchange operator with a major data and index-licensing revenue stream analogous to KRX's cross-border index launches.
• Deutsche Börse: Operates Frankfurt-based exchanges (Xetra, Eurex) covering cash equities and a leading European derivatives franchise. Comparable European exchange operator with strong derivatives and clearing positioning similar to KRX's hybrid model.

Others

• Koscom: Korean IT services affiliate of KRX providing market data infrastructure and emissions trading IT. Listed as KRX-related entity and serves as technology infrastructure partner for KRX's emissions allowance futures market and broader systems.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/korea-exchange

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Korea Exchange