This year, global uncertainty due to conflicts in the Middle East and tariff risks from the United States has increased the preference for safe assets, resulting in record-high gold transaction volume in the first half of the year.
According to a report released on the 2nd by the Korea Exchange on the 'Trend of the KRX Gold Market in the First Half of 2025', the transaction volume of the KRX gold market in the first half of this year was 37.3 tons (t), marking the highest level since the establishment of the KRX gold market in 2014. This is a figure that has increased 4.1 times compared to the same period last year (9 tons).
In the first half of this year, the average price of 1 kg of gold was 144,000 won per gram, which is a 36.7% increase compared to the last year's average of 106,000 won per gram.
By investor type, individuals accounted for 46.9%, making up the majority. Institutions and others followed with 34.0%, and physical operators at 19.1%. In particular, the number of gold transaction accounts opened by individuals through securities firms (1.45 million) increased by 10% compared to last year (1.32 million).
The exchange explained that the introduction of new financial products such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and exchange-traded notes (ETNs) for investing in gold on the KRX gold market in the first half of this year—one each—has improved investor accessibility and convenience. These financial products are the 'Mirae Asset Leverage KRX Gold Physical' ETN launched in May and the 'TIGER KRX Gold Physical' ETF that came out on the 24th of last month.
The exchange emphasized that the KRX gold market is recognized as a reliable major investment destination for gold. In the KRX gold market, gold with a purity of 99.99% can be invested in small amounts at market-formed prices per gram. Along with taxes on trading profits, value-added taxes are exempt for transactions conducted on the exchange.
A representative from the exchange said, 'In order to change investor perceptions and attract new investors in the future, we plan to promote the KRX gold market through various means such as participating in economic fairs, expanding lectures for different types of investors, and media marketing.'