The number of "super Les Fourmis" who reported to the National Tax Service that their overseas stock account balance exceeded 5 billion won last year totaled 2,356, up 24% from a year earlier. Account balances also rose 19% to 8.2 trillion won. Most of the balances, 85.3%, were invested in U.S. stocks.
On the 2nd, the National Tax Service released the "2026 overseas financial account filing results." Under the Adjustment of International Taxes Act, residents and corporations in Korea must report to the National Tax Service if, in any month of the previous year, the balance of overseas financial accounts—such as deposits and savings, bonds, and virtual assets—exceeded 5 billion won.
◇ Overseas financial account balances total 107 trillion won this year... corporations account for 74%
The total number of filers for overseas financial accounts, including individuals and corporations, was 7,484 this year, up 9.1% from a year earlier. The number of accounts increased 8.1% to 32,815, and balances rose 13.3% to 107.1 trillion won.
Individuals accounted for 89% by number of filers, but corporations made up 74% of balances. The number of individual filers rose 10.6% from a year earlier and their balances increased 2.6%. The number of corporate filers fell 1.7%, while their balances rose 17.6%.
Of total balances, 57% (61.3 trillion won) was invested in stocks, 22% in deposits and savings (23.6 trillion won), and 10% in virtual assets (10.5 trillion won).
◇ Average 4.1 billion won per individual... those in their 60s and older rank first
The average amount reported per individual for overseas financial accounts, including stocks, was 4.11 billion won. By age, those in their 60s and older ranked first at 5.48 billion won. They were followed by ▲ those in their 30s (4.89 billion won) ▲ those in their 20s and younger (3.83 billion won) ▲ those in their 40s (3.39 billion won) ▲ those in their 50s (3.21 billion won).
Investment destinations differed for individuals and corporations. For individuals, the amount held in U.S. accounts was the largest at 66.4% (11.6 trillion won) based on balances. Next were ▲ Singapore at 8.1% (1.4 trillion won) ▲ Hong Kong at 6.1% (1.1 trillion won) ▲ Japan at 3.2% (600 billion won).
For corporations, India ranked first with 36.5% (28.8 trillion won) of account balances. The United States stood at 22.9% (18.1 trillion won), Japan at 11.9% (9.4 trillion won), and Taiwan at 2.7% (2.1 trillion won).
◇ "First filings" of overseas trusts total 3.8 trillion won... most located in the U.S.
Meanwhile, overseas trust assets were reported by 1,286 people at a total of 3.8 trillion won. Overseas trusts became reportable for the first time this year. Individuals accounted for 97.6% of filers, while corporations accounted for 81% of the amount. It was found that 80% of all overseas trust filings were located in the United States.
It was tallied that asset managers and shipping companies often held large sums—such as bonds and funds—in trust form. Individuals were said to hold many stocks and real estate in trusts.