South Korea to launch first alternative stock trading system next week

Regulator expects to lure investors with longer trading hours and lower fees

Nextrade will be open for trading from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., five and a half hours longer than the Korea Exchange. © Reuters

KIM JAEWON

February 28, 2025 09:19 JST

SEOUL -- South Korea will launch its first alternative stock trading system (ATS) next week to allow for longer trading hours and lower fees -- and slimmer broker margins -- as authorities try to reverse a trend in which individuals pull their money out of local investments and send it to better-performing overseas bourses.

Nextrade opens for business on Tuesday, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) said. Mirae Asset, Samsung, Yuanta and 25 other brokerages will offer their services on the new platform.