SEOUL — Korea Investment & Securities (KIS) announced on Tuesday that more than 20,000 individual investors flocked to the nation’s first-ever Individual Managed Account (IMA), marking a significant milestone in the South Korean financial landscape.

According to data released by KIS on December 30, the total recruitment for the IMA, which closed on December 23, reached a staggering 1.059 trillion KRW. Of this total, 863.8 billion KRW was contributed by 20,239 individual retail clients. This brings the average investment per individual to approximately 43 million KRW, demonstrating strong market confidence in the new financial vehicle.

An IMA is a specialized investment product that can only be offered by Integrated Investment Banks with an equity capital exceeding 8 trillion KRW. Currently, Korea Investment & Securities and Mirae Asset Securities are the only two firms authorized by financial authorities to provide this service.

The demographic breakdown of the participants reveals a clear preference among older investors seeking stability. Investors in their 50s accounted for the largest share at 33%, followed by those in their 60s (24%), 40s (18%), and 70s (11%). Combined, individuals aged 50 and older represented nearly 70% of the total investor base.

Market analysts attribute this trend to the IMA’s unique value proposition: it guarantees the protection of the principal if held until maturity while offering significantly higher yields than traditional commercial bank savings or time deposits. While 34% of subscribers started with an initial investment of less than 10 million KRW, the high average investment suggests that many affluent individuals moved substantial portions of their portfolios into the account.

"The overwhelming response reflects a deep-seated demand for stable yet competitive investment options in a volatile market," said Kim Sung-hwan, CEO of Korea Investment & Securities. "Moving forward, we plan to refine our asset management strategies and product designs by further analyzing the specific characteristics and needs of our IMA clients."

With the successful debut of the KIS IMA, the industry is closely watching how this new asset class will reshape the competitive landscape between traditional banks and brokerage firms.