What KIWOOM SECURITIES does

Kiwoom Securities is one of South Korea's top five retail brokerages and claims the #1 market share position in Korean equities, operating primarily through its proprietary mobile trading platform HeroS# (also branded "Youngwoongmun S#"). The platform integrates real-time trading with a chat-based community service that has attracted 1.5 million users in approximately four months, averaging 150,000 daily active users and 800,000+ monthly users, with direct analyst participation and AI-based information summarization. Kiwoom has deployed a Korean-first commercial explainable AI investment service through a three-party strategic MOU with LG AI Research (leveraging its EXAONE large language model) and the London Stock Exchange Group (providing global financial data across 190+ countries), enabling retail investors to receive stock-level predictions with plain-language reasoning and supporting evidence.

The company's revenue model is diversified across multiple streams: trading commissions from brokerage activity, interest income from margin lending (Korean margin debt hit a record KRW 36.47 trillion, with top 10 brokerages earning KRW 600 billion in Q1 2025), a newly launched commercial paper issuance business that surpassed KRW 1 trillion in balance within roughly three months of its December 2025 launch, and venture capital investments (with a ~KRW 750 billion existing balance and plans to deploy KRW 600 billion in new venture capital in 2026). Geographic expansion is being executed through distribution partnerships with Webull (25 million global customers across 14 markets) and Interactive Brokers to offer foreign omnibus accounts, giving international investors real-time access to Korean equities without opening domestic accounts. Marketing channels include a notable Gen Z-focused esports sponsorship of DRX (rebranded "Kiwoom DRX") and ESG initiatives such as employee blood donation drives and student scholarships.

Name

KIWOOM SECURITIES

Legal name

Kiwoom Securities

Website

https://www.kiwoom.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Kiwoom Securities is a top-five South Korean online brokerage serving retail investors through its HeroS# mobile trading platform, offering explainable AI-powered investment services via LG AI Research and LSEG partnerships, and international market access through Webull and Interactive Brokers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Securities Brokerage

NAICS

Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage (5231), Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation (52315), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Equities Trade Execution Platforms (ATS/MTF/ECN) (FSAFANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Stock Borrow/Loan (Equities Securities Lending) (FSACAFAD), Equity Capital Markets Advisory (Equity Issuance Strategy & Readiness) (FSACAAAI)

Keywords

• Online brokerage services
• Securities trading platform
• Mobile trading app
• Retail investment services
• Financial markets brokerage

Headquarters

HQ city

Yeoksamdong

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Trading Commissions: Earnings from trading commissions as one of Korea's top 10 brokerages, benefiting from surge in retail investor activity and record trading volumes.
2. Margin Lending Interest: Interest income from margin loans to retail investors. Outstanding margin debt reached record 36.47 trillion won. Kiwoom earned interest income as part of top 10 brokerages collectively earning 600 billion won in Q1 2025.
3. Commercial Paper Issuance: Commercial paper issuance business launched December 19, with balance surpassing 1 trillion won by February 10, approximately three months after launch.
4. Strategic Investment (Venture Capital): Venture capital investments in small, venture, and innovative companies. Plans to supply 600 billion won in new venture capital in 2026, holding approximately 750 billion won investment balance as of end of last year.
5. Brokerage Services: Combined net profit from major brokerages including Kiwoom Securities estimated at 2.79 trillion won for Q1 2026, up 71.3% from previous projection, driven by trading activity.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

KIWOOM SECURITIES provides online brokerage and financial market services through its proprietary HeroS# mobile trading platform, enabling retail investors to trade stocks, futures, and options. The company also offers commercial paper issuance, venture capital investments, and AI-powered investment services through partnerships with LG AI Research and LSEG, while enabling international investors to access Korean equities via partnerships with Webull and Interactive Brokers.

Product overview

Kiwoom Securities is Korea's leading brokerage firm by stock market share, operating primarily through its HeroS# mobile trading platform. The platform integrates core trading functionality with a community service featuring real-time chat, AI-based information summarization, and analyst participation. The company also offers Kiwoom Commercial Paper for direct investment in venture and innovative companies, and has partnered with LG AI Research and LSEG to deliver explainable AI-powered investment services through its platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HeroS#: Mobile trading system used by Kiwoom Securities for real-time chat-based community service and trading, with over 1.5 million community users and AI-based information summarization.
• Youngwoongmun S#

Products and services

• HeroS# Mobile Trading Platform KIWOOM SECURITIES' proprietary mobile trading system serving as the primary platform for retail investors, integrating stock/futures/options trading functionality with community features and AI-powered investment services for Korean market participants.
• Kiwoom Commercial Paper Commercial paper issuance business enabling direct investment in small, venture, and innovative Korean companies, with issuance balance surpassing KRW 1 trillion within three months of launch.
• HeroS# Community Service Real-time chat-based community platform integrated into the HeroS# mobile trading system, enabling investors to discuss market conditions and stock charts with direct analyst participation and AI-based information summarization.
• Explainable AI Investment Service AI-powered investment service using LG's Exaone Business Intelligence system combined with LSEG's global financial data to provide stock-level forecasts with plain-language explanations and supporting evidence, delivered through the HeroS# mobile trading platform.
• KIWOOM U.S. Space Data Center Infrastructure ETF ETF offered through Kiwoom Asset Management (subsidiary) on the Korea Exchange, giving Korean retail investors targeted exposure to U.S. space-launch and space-data-center infrastructure companies including SpaceX and Rocket Lab.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.5 million community users in approximately four months since launch
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Kiwoom Asset ManagementcoreOthers · 16 June 2026Kiwoom Asset Management (subsidiary) launching KIWOOM U.S. Space Data Center Infrastructure ETF on Korea Exchange, offering Korean retail investors targeted exposure to space-launch and space-data-center infrastructure companies with approximately 50% allocation to launch-vehicle companies including SpaceX and Rocket Lab.
• LG AI Research InstitutecoreTechnology or Integration · 13 April 2026Strategic MOU signed at Kiwoom Securities Seoul headquarters to develop explainable AI investment services using LG's EXAONE large-scale AI model. Service provides AI predictions along with supporting evidence and reasoning, launched through Kiwoom's mobile trading platform HeroS#. First domestic commercial deployment of explainable AI investing for retail investors in Korea.
• London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG)coreTechnology or Integration · 13 April 2026Three-party MOU with LG AI Research and Kiwoom Securities to provide global financial data from over 190 countries, combining with LG's AI technology on Kiwoom's investor platform. Aims to enhance retail investor decision-making with transparent AI predictions.
• DRX (Esports Team)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 March 2026Strategic business agreement with esports team DRX including naming sponsorship and joint marketing initiatives. Signing ceremony took place at DRX Seoul Tower in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Kiwoom Securities enters esports for first time under new team name 'Kiwoom DRX', aiming to strengthen connections with Generation Z customers.
• New Paradigm InvestmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026Joint IPO strategy seminar held for New Paradigm Investment's portfolio companies, covering 2026 IPO market trends, regulatory changes, and practical preparation matters including stock option management and pre-IPO risk factors.
• WebullcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 13 February 2026Strategic partnership with US online brokerage platform Webull to enable overseas investors to trade Korean stocks in real time on Webull platform without opening separate domestic securities accounts. Webull operates in 14 markets worldwide with approximately 25 million customers as of end of last year. Serves as Kiwoom's springboard to strengthen customer access to US capital market.
• Interactive BrokersflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Partnership with US-based Interactive Brokers to offer foreign omnibus accounts enabling international investors to trade Korean equities directly through their home-market brokerage. Seven local brokers preparing to launch service following Financial Services Commission's abolition of previous restrictions.

Scale indicators8 records

Direct peers

• Mirae Asset Securities: One of Korea's top brokerages (1.59 trillion won net income in 2025) operating in domestic retail and institutional brokerage, asset management, and investment banking — directly competing with Kiwoom for Korean retail trading share and IPO/VC mandates.
• Korea Investment & Securities: Korea's top brokerage by 2025 net income (2.01 trillion won) competing head-to-head with Kiwoom in retail brokerage, margin lending, and equity capital markets — the largest direct domestic competitor for Korean stock trading share.
• NH Investment & Securities: Top-5 Korean brokerage providing retail and institutional brokerage, trading platforms, and asset management. Direct competitor to Kiwoom in domestic equity trading, particularly given NH's bancassurance-style distribution advantages.
• Samsung Securities: Top-5 Korean brokerage with full-service retail, institutional and investment banking offerings. Competes directly with Kiwoom for Korean retail trading volumes and IPO underwriting mandates.
• Hana Financial Investment: Mid-to-large Korean securities firm providing online brokerage, margin lending, and asset management. Directly competes with Kiwoom in the domestic retail trading space and is one of the seven local brokers preparing omnibus-based foreign access services.
• Interactive Brokers: US-headquartered global online brokerage partnered with Kiwoom for Korean equity access. Comparable as a mobile-first, low-cost multi-asset brokerage serving retail and institutional investors across markets.
• Webull: US-headquartered mobile brokerage partnered with Kiwoom to offer Korean equities to its 25 million global users. Highly comparable mobile-first product-led growth brokerage model targeting active retail investors.
• Futu Holdings: Hong Kong-headquartered mobile brokerage offering cross-border equities trading across Asia and the US. Comparable digital-first brokerage model targeting active retail investors with similar mobile community and AI features.
• Tiger Brokers (UP Fintech): Singapore/Hong Kong-headquartered mobile-first brokerage providing cross-border equities trading to Asian retail investors. Comparable as a tech-forward, mobile-native brokerage competing for cross-border retail trading flow in Asia.

Broad incumbents

• Robinhood Markets: Large US mobile brokerage with product-led growth, community features, and crypto/investing integration. Comparable as a mobile-first retail brokerage pioneering community-led investing, though at a much larger scale and broader product breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kiwoomhero
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kiwoom-securities-co-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

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

M&A

Investments36 records

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

Frequently asked questions about KIWOOM SECURITIES