Business · Markets · 1 hr ago
Affluent South Koreans shift savings from deposits to stocks
Shinhan Card found that South Korean customers with 100 million to 1 billion won in financial assets shifted money from fixed-term deposits to stocks over roughly a year and a half.
The analysis covered customers of Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Investment & Securities, from the end of December 2024 through August.
For people in their 20s in this group, deposits fell 34% while stock assets rose 139%.
Across all customers studied, financial assets grew 29%, but the increase varied sharply by wealth: 9% for those with less than 100 million won, 27% for the middle group and 54% for those with at least 1 billion won.
The fastest growth among wealthier customers widened the gap in the share of total assets they held.
Shinhan Card suggested that easing high interest rates and a recovering asset market helped prompt the move into stocks.
Some customers also increased liquid savings or regular deposits, so the shift did not mean abandoning all cash savings; the data show changes over the period studied but do not give a forecast.
South Koreans with financial assets of 100 million to 1 billion won shifted away from lump-sum deposits and increased their stock assets over about 18 months.
The changes were found in an analysis of Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Investment Securities customer data by Shinhan Card’s Big Data Research Institute.
Among customers in this asset group, people in their 20s had a 34% decline in lump-sum deposits and a 139% rise in stock assets.
Financial assets grew faster among customers with more assets: 54% for those with at least 1 billion won, compared with 9% for those with less than 100 million won.
Some customers also increased liquid deposits or continued regular savings alongside their stock investments.
- Who
- South Korean customers with financial assets of 100 million to 1 billion won, described as the mass affluent.
- What
- They reduced lump-sum deposits and increased stock assets. The analysis also found faster overall asset growth among wealthier customers.
- When
- The data covered changes from the end of December 2024 through August. The report was published on October 21, 2026.
- Where
- South Korea; the analysis covered customers of Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Investment Securities.
- Why
- Shinhan Card attributed the shift to the end of the high-interest-rate era and a recovery in asset markets.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Shinhan Card analyzed changes in the financial assets of Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Investment Securities customers.
Shinhan Card’s Big Data Research Institute announced the analysis.
- Analysis period
- End of December 2024 through August
- Overall financial assets
- Increased by about 29%
- Assets below 100 million won
- Increased by 9%
- Assets of 100 million to 1 billion won
- Increased by 27%
- Assets of at least 1 billion won
- Increased by 54%
- People in their 20s
- Lump-sum deposits fell 34%; stock assets rose 139%
1 source
What people are saying
The data confirm a structural change in which customers who already hold a certain level of assets have increased their wealth more quickly.