Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF (FLKR)
| Assets | $1.03B |
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% |
| PE Ratio | 19.61 |
| Shares Out | 20.60M |
| Dividend (ttm) | $1.47 |
| Dividend Yield | 2.49% |
| Ex-Dividend Date | Jun 26, 2026 |
| Payout Frequency | Semi-Annual |
| Payout Ratio | 48.86% |
| Volume | 937,698 |
| Open | 60.61 |
| Previous Close | 59.08 |
| Day's Range | 57.37 - 61.87 |
| 52-Week Low | 23.84 |
| 52-Week High | 72.49 |
| Beta | 1.46 |
| Holdings | 162 |
| Inception Date | Nov 2, 2017 |
About FLKR
Fund Home PageThe Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF (FLKR) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the FTSE South Korea RIC Capped index. The fund tracks a market cap-weighted index of large- and mid-cap South Korean companies. FLKR was launched on Nov 2, 2017 and is issued by Franklin Templeton.
Top 10 Holdings
60.96% of assets| Name | Symbol | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| SK hynix Inc. | 000660 | 24.53% |
| Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | 005930 | 16.73% |
| SK Square Co., Ltd. | 402340 | 4.20% |
| Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. | 009150 | 4.00% |
| Hyundai Motor Company | 005380 | 2.60% |
| KB Financial Group Inc. | 105560 | 2.26% |
| Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Participating Preferred | 005935.KQ | 1.92% |
| Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd. | 055550 | 1.74% |
| Doosan Enerbility Co., Ltd. | 034020 | 1.53% |
| Hanwha Aerospace Co., Ltd. | 012450 | 1.45% |
Dividend History
| Ex-Dividend | Amount | Pay Date |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 26, 2026 | $0.29809 | Jul 6, 2026 |
| Dec 19, 2025 | $1.174 | Dec 29, 2025 |
| Jun 20, 2025 | $0.06574 | Jun 27, 2025 |
| Dec 20, 2024 | $0.05567 | Dec 30, 2024 |
| Jun 21, 2024 | $1.17718 | Jun 28, 2024 |
| Dec 15, 2023 | $0.35064 | Dec 26, 2023 |
Performance
FLKR had a total return of 152.72% in the past year, including dividends. Since the fund's inception, the average annual return has been 13.10%.
News
Kospi Index slides as foreigners dump ahead of Samsung earnings
The Kospi Index retreated by over 1.5% today, July 6, as foreign investors continued to sell their shares ahead of Samsung Electronics' preliminary earnings report. It was trading at 7,947, down by 15...
South Korea's Exports Post Biggest Surge Since 1978
Exports were powered by the unabated demand for advanced chips to fuel the global artificial-intelligence boom, resulting in their largest increase in nearly five decades.
Korea's Chips Rally Is Driving Its Stock Market Into a Danger Zone
The rally driven by the global artificial-intelligence boom has exposed structural vulnerabilities in a stock market unaccustomed to wild swings.
Kospi Index hits key support as Samsung, SK Hynix stocks retreat
South Korea's Kospi Composite Index slipped by nearly 2% on Monday morning, driven by the sell-off in SK Hynix and Samsung, rising crude oil prices amid the ongoing US-Iran crisis, and fears of single...
Kospi suffers worst week since March: Why has the index turned so volatile?
South Korean stocks ended their worst week in more than three months on Friday, capping a turbulent stretch that has also prompted comparisons between the country's benchmark equity index and the meme...
Korean Stocks Plunge 9% on Chip Selloff
South Korean stocks were hit by a second trading suspension this week as chipmakers plunged, highlighting the market's sensitivity to swings in global artificial-intelligence sentiment. The benchmark ...
Why one of the world's 'most developed markets' isn't getting developed market status, according to MSCI
South Korea was hoping to take the first step to an upgrade to developed-market status with MSCI this year. However, the index provider's latest review kept the country in its Emerging Markets categor...
Kospi Index forms bearish divergence ahead of Micron earnings
The Kospi Index retreated sharply this week, reaching its lowest level since June 12, as technology stocks plunged. It retreated by 10% on Tuesday, and continued the trend today, June 24.
How the Red-Hot KOSPI Index Has Become a Canary in the Tech Stocks Coal Mine
South Korea stocks are correcting. U.S. markets should take heed.
Massive bonuses for South Korea's chip workers puts central bank on inflation alert
While bonuses do not usually contribute to inflation, the huge amounts that workers at South Korea's tech firms could receive are enough to worry the Bank of Korea. South Korean media reports cite pro...
Why The AI Chip Boom Is Punishing South Korea's Government Bonds
The same memory-chip cycle that has made Samsung and SK Hynix soar is forcing the Bank of Korea toward rate hikes, leaving Korean sovereign debt the worst performer in the world. It is a case study in...
Asia's Stock Market Boom Isn't Over. Why the Blockbuster Gains Can Continue.
Of the two hottest Asian markets, strategists are more bullish about South Korea than Taiwan.
Bank of Korea Warns Inflation May Stay Elevated Despite Middle East Truce
South Korea is likely to see elevated inflation for a prolonged period as higher energy costs spread into the broader economy and creates fresh risks for policymakers, the Bank of Korea said.
Bank of Korea Governor Signals Readiness to Raise Rates as Inflation Risks Mount
Gov. Shin Hyun-song 's remarks will likely reinforce market expectations that the central bank will resume tightening as soon as next month.
KRX CEO talks about Korea's foreign investors & MSCI DM prospects
Jeong Eun-Bo, CEO & Chairman of the Korea Exchange (KRX), talks to CNBC's Lisa Kim about foreign investment in the South Korean markets, and evaluates the country's chances of ascending the MSCI Devel...
South Korea Has a Chip Conundrum—Huge Profits and a Serious Selloff
Korea has been a hot market but shares are falling back to earth, especially those of memory chip makers Samsung and SK Hynix.
A massive 16% market swing just rocked South Korea over 24 hours. The retail ‘ants' holding the wheel are driving dangerously.
Increasing use by retail investors or ‘ants' of leveraged products to gain fast exposure to market upside is amplifying market volatility on Korea's rollercoaster exchange.
Here's why South Korea's Kospi Index is rising today (June 9)
South Korea's Kospi Index rose by over 4% on Tuesday, mirroring the resurgence of the US equities market. It rose to KRW 7,814, a few points above the Monday's low of KRW 7,435 as technology stocks ju...
Korean Stocks Under Pressure, Jensen Huang in Seoul
South Korean stocks plunged as investors pulled back from artificial intelligence bets. Meanwhile, a tech-centered camaraderie was on display last week with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's night out in Seou...
Korean Authorities Urge Banks to Step Up Controls as Won Slumps
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Chip rout puts Korea's 'ant' investors to the test as margin debt soars
Seoul resident Laura Byun has long preferred U.S. mutual funds over Korean shares, but the KOSPI's blistering rally changed that and her risk tolerance for debt.
KOSPI plunges 8%: why Goldman Sachs still sees 12,000
South Korea's KOSPI plunged on Monday as a global chip selloff turned into a full-blown stress test for one of the world's hottest equity markets. The benchmark index triggered a Level 1 circuit break...
One quadrillion is the number used to describe the wealth effect of South Korea's stock-market miracle
Having more than doubled already this year, Korea's stock market returns have driven a wealth effect that under an optimistic scenario could generate a wealth effect among the populace of KRW 43 trill...
Samsung down 5%, SK Hynix slips 7%: is South Korea too dependent on AI boom?
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix fell sharply on Friday as a selloff in US chip stocks spilled into South Korea, raising fresh questions about the country's heavy dependence on the artificial intellig...
South Korea is the ultimate backdoor tech play — but stock investors now face a looming threat
Samsung and SK Hynix are key to soaring South Korean stock market, but a rate hike could trigger a 15% market correction.
The hottest stock market in the world has doubled this year. Now Goldman Sachs sees another 40% gain from here.
Earnings are the principal driver behind the breathtaking rallies achieved by Korean and Taiwanese benchmark indices in 2026, and Goldman Sachs thinks the market is still underestimating the longevity...
Nikkei 225 leads Asian markets lower as Middle East tensions hit sentiment
Asian equities fell on Tuesday as doubts over a Middle East ceasefire weighed on risk appetite, offsetting optimism around artificial intelligence funding and potential listings. MSCI's Asia-Pacific i...
South Korea Inflation Accelerated to 26-Month High in May
The benchmark consumer-price index rose 3.1% from a year earlier in May, reflecting the effects of higher oil prices amid Middle East tensions and the won's weakness against the U.S. dollar.
It's been one of the best years to generate alpha in China: Matthews Asia
Matthews Asia's Sean Taylor explains why he remains constructive on China despite the broader indexes lagging some high-performing sectors. He also outlines his South Korea strategy, including an over...
Korean chip stocks will win no matter who survives the AI giants' 'deathmatch': KB Financial Group
Peter Kim, global investment strategist at KB Financial Group, says from a valuations and fundamentals perspective, we are "not even halfway through" the rally in South Korea's semiconductor and memor...
South Korea's Kakao says it fails to reach a pay deal with union
South Korean tech firm Kakao Corp said it has failed to reach a pay deal with its union after second-round negotiations mediated by the government on Wednesday.
Bank of Korea Holds Rates Steady, Raises Inflation and Growth Forecasts
South Korea's central bank held rates steady at its first meeting under Gov. Shin Hyun-song, but kept the door open to policy tightening as it forecast higher growth and inflation.
SK Hynix Stock Is Soaring—In South Korea. Here's How You Can Invest In It in the U.S.
Call it a K-pop.
Nikkei hits record high as AI chip frenzy powers Japan stocks
Japan's Nikkei 225 climbed to a record high on Wednesday, as a rally in semiconductor shares outweighed weakness in banks and real estate stocks. The benchmark index rose 1.25% to 65,811.78 as of 0147...
Are Asia small caps overlooked winners in regional equity markets in 2026?
Asia's smaller companies have delivered stronger returns than the region's large-cap stocks over the past five years, while also offering lower volatility and broader sector exposure, according to HSB...
Debt-fueled bets turbocharge South Korean stock-market returns as Kospi jumps 8%
News that Samsung management had managed to negotiate successfully with labor unions prompted a steepling rally in SOuth Korean stocks, augmented by the bullish comments from Nvidia's CEO about the AI...
Goldman Sachs says AI and energy resilience are creating a North-South divide in Asian markets
Investors are focusing on AI developments in North Asia. China is coming out of more than three years of deflation measured by the producer price index.
Foreign firms eye Hong Kong listings as IPO rebound broadens
About 10 companies from countries including Indonesia, South Korea and Singapore have filed for Hong Kong listings this year and some others are exploring options, an exchange executive said, as the ...
Kospi slides as Gulf strikes rattle oil, bonds and Asian markets
Asian markets fell sharply on Monday after drone strikes in the Gulf reportedly triggered a fire at a nuclear power facility in the UAE, lifting oil prices and reigniting fears over inflation, tighter...
Korean Stocks Are Up 89%. Hedge Funders Suggest How to Play It.
South Korea is often-overlooked but its stock market is the hottest in the world this year. The boom is led by chip powerhouses SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics.
An AI Windfall Tax? The Mere Mention Just Derailed the World's Hottest Stock Market.
South Korea's KOSPI index took a tumble Monday as an official floated the idea of a giving excess AI profits to the country's citizens.
The hottest stock market in the world finally met its match: taxes
The idea that citizens should get a cut of the booming profits of tech companies derailed one of the hottest stock markets in the world on Tuesday.
South Korea floats AI profit social tax as tech giants boom
A top South Korean official has proposed a tax on AI profits to be redistributed among society as a semiconductor boom drives massive earnings for tech giants Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.
Monday's Final Takeaways: Oil Prices & South Korea Stocks
Marley Kayden talks about oil prices surging after the president rejected Iran's latest proposal to end the war, while Sam Vadas touches on JPMorgan Chase (JPM) thinking there's room to run for South ...
South Korea, Dutch leaders discuss chips, AI cooperation
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten agreed in their first phone call to expand cooperation in semiconductors, AI, quantum technology, batteries and o...
Here's the latest stock market to be leapfrogged by South Korea in the world rankings
A heavier representation by tech stocks and exposure to new industries has made South Korea's index a worldbeater in 2026 while Canada has a greater representation by traditional industries like banki...
Nikkei 225 crosses 62,000 as Asian markets rally on relief hopes
Asian markets opened Thursday with a powerful relief bid, as investors leaned into hopes that tensions in the Middle East may ease enough to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. Japan set the tone, with th...
South Korea Exports Continue to Surge on AI-Related Demand
South Korea's exports continued to surge in April, led by semiconductor shipments, suggesting the trade-dependent economy remains resilient despite risks from the Middle East conflict.

