Last month, the Korea Value-up Index hit a record high. Boosted by listed companies' stronger shareholder-return policies, the Value-up Index rose faster than the KOSPI over the same period.
According to the Monthly Corporate Value Enhancement Status released by the Korea Exchange (KRX) on the 5th, as of the 26th of last month, the Korea Value-up Index stood at 2,836.31, up 185.9% from its base date of Sept. 30, 2024. That is 42.7 percentage points higher than the KOSPI's 143.2% rise over the same period.
The net asset value of the 13 Value-up ETFs also increased rapidly. As of the end of last month, net asset value was 2.7 trillion won, up 446.3% from 496.1 billion won at the initial launch date of Nov. 4, 2024.
Listed companies are also expanding shareholder-return policies. According to the exchange, share buybacks increased about 2.5 times, from 8.2 trillion won in 2023 to 20.1 trillion won in 2025. Over the same period, share cancellations also grew about fourfold, from 4.8 trillion won to 21.4 trillion won. Cash dividends likewise expanded from 43.1 trillion won in 2023 to 50.9 trillion won in 2025.
The number of listed companies participating in disclosures of corporate value enhancement plans is steadily increasing. As of the end of last month, a total of 180 listed companies had filed formal disclosures of corporate value enhancement plans. Of these, 131 were KOSPI-listed companies and 49 were KOSDAQ-listed companies.
Last month, five companies, including GOLD&S, Seoul Electronics & Telecom, and JYP Entertainment, filed new disclosures. Eleven corporations, including Coway, submitted periodic disclosures, including implementation evaluations, after their initial filings.
Meanwhile, under the amended Enforcement Decree of the Act on Restriction on Special Cases Concerning Taxation, which took effect on the 27th of last month, high-dividend corporations must include whether they meet the special taxation requirements in their corporate value enhancement plan disclosures.