As domestic stock market transactions became more active, the value of stock settlements jumped sharply last year.
According to the Korea Securities Depository (KSD) on Jan. 12, the value of stock settlements processed through the depository for all of 2025 totaled 601.4 trillion won. That was up 24.4% from the previous year's 483.4 trillion won. The daily average settlement value was about 2.5 trillion won.
By transaction type, settlement value for on-exchange stock trades—in which securities firms settle stocks and cash with each other on the exchange—rose 22.2% to 265.7 trillion won. Settlement value for stock transactions with institutional investors increased 26.2% to 335.7 trillion won.
Settlement value for institutional investors refers to the amount generated when general institutional investors, collective investment business entities, and foreign investors settle stocks with securities firms.
Stock settlement value is the result of clearing actual transaction amounts using a multilateral netting method. While last year's on-exchange stock transaction value was 7,687 trillion won, the actual settlement value fell to 265.7 trillion won after netting. The netted amount was 7,421.3 trillion won, for a netting rate of 96.5%.
For stock institutional-investor settlements as well, 91.5% of the 3,950 trillion won in transaction value was netted out, reducing the settlement value to 335.7 trillion won.
The depository said this settlement structure is helping to enhance the stability of the securities market. A Korea Securities Depository (KSD) official said, "By netting stock settlement funds, market participants can complete settlements with minimal capital, which can reduce settlement risk."