2025 South Korea IPO Market Jumps 15%: $3.19B Raised Amid New 2026 Rules
South Korea's 2025 IPO proceeds rose 14.9% to 4.57 trillion won ($3.19 billion). Explore how LG CNS led the market and how new 2026 institutional lock-up rules will change the game.
South Korea's IPO market hit a high note in 2025. Total proceeds jumped 14.9% year-on-year to reach 4.57 trillion won ($3.19 billion), fueled by resilient liquidity. While the number of firms going public remained steady, the sheer size of big-ticket listings moved the needle for the 2025 South Korea IPO market.
2025 IPO Performance: Quality Over Quantity
According to data from IR Kudos Corp, a total of 77 companies debuted on the KOSPI and KOSDAQ bourses this year. This is almost identical to last year's 78 debuts. However, the average deal size increased significantly as institutional investors flocked to established players with proven track records.
LG CNS and DH Shipbuilding Lead the Charge
The heavyweight champion of the year was LG CNS, an IT affiliate of LG Electronics. It successfully raised 1.19 trillion won, accounting for over 25% of the year's total market proceeds. DH Shipbuilding followed as a strong runner-up, securing 500 billion won in its market debut.
Looking Ahead: Tighter Rules for 2026
Regulators aren't sitting idle. Starting in 2026, a new rule will mandate that more than 40% of IPO shares be allocated to institutional investors who commit to long-term holding periods. This is a massive jump from the current 20% requirement, aimed at curbing the 'flipping' behavior that leads to first-day price volatility.
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