Evolution in South Korea’s Derivatives Market: Factors for Change
Abstract
South Korea’s listed derivatives trading market boasts the world’s greatest trading volume, accounting for roughly 20% of the global total, and it continues to grow steadily. In contrast, the nation’s OTC derivatives trading volume possesses a meager 0.19% of the global pie, lagging significantly behind other world markets.
In the report Evolution in South Korea’s Derivatives Market: Factors for Change, Celent analyzes the current status and future prospects of South Korea’s domestic derivatives market. The report takes a look at the most traded listed derivatives market in the world as well as its lagging over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives market counterpart, contrasting the trading volumes and value of each as well as placing them in an international context.

Financial markets in South Korea have undergone significant reforms and are reaching a major turning point. Growth-promoting factors are paving a path for expected growth, the prospects of which are examined in this report.
“While South Korea’s derivatives market may not be able to maintain its steep growth curve, it should continue its solid growth due to support from substantial financial market reforms that are taking place,” says KyongSun Kong, an Analyst with Celent's Asian Financial Services Group and author of the report.
This report delves into the regulatory infrastructure of South Korea’s derivatives market, examines the transformation afoot in the nation’s overall financial market, and analyzes the collective effects these are likely to have on the derivatives market.
Celent is a research and advisory firm dedicated to helping financial institutions formulate comprehensive business and technology strategies. Celent publishes reports identifying trends and best practices in financial services technology and conducts consulting engagements for financial institutions looking to use technology to enhance existing business processes or launch new business strategies. With a team of internationally based analysts, Celent is uniquely positioned to offer strategic advice and market insights on a global basis. Celent is a member of the Oliver Wyman Group, which is part of Marsh & McLennan Companies [NYSE: MMC].
Media Contacts
North America (New York)
Dana Greenstein
dgreenstein@celent.com
Tel.: +1 646 364 8254
Europe (London)
Chris Williams
cwilliams@celent.com
Tel: +44 (0)208 870 7875
Asia (Tokyo)
Yumi Nagaoka
ynagaoka@celent.com
Tel.: +81.3.3500.3023
Table of Contents
Executive Summary | 1 | |
South Korea’s Economic Environment | 2 | |
South Korea’s Regulatory Environment | 4 | |
| The Capital Market and Financial Investment Business Act | 4 |
| OTC Derivative Regulation | 5 |
| KIKO Incident Effect on the Legislative Infrastructure | 6 |
South Korea’s Derivatives Market in a Global Context | 7 | |
| :Listed Derivatives | 7 |
| OTC Derivatives | 8 |
Current State of Listed Derivatives Trading in South Korea | 10 | |
| Korea Exchange (KRX) | 10 |
| Current State of Derivatives Trading on the KRX | 10 |
Current State of OTC Derivatives Trading in South Korea | 14 | |
Factors Promoting Growth | 16 | |
| Introduction of a CCP Clearinghouse | 16 |
| Introduction of ATS | 16 |
| Advent of HFT | 17 |
| Lifting of the Ban on Hedge Funds | 17 |
| Emergence of Large Investment Banks | 17 |
Conclusion | 19 | |
Leveraging Celent’s Expertise | 20 | |
| Support for Financial Institutions | 20 |
| Support for Vendors | 20 |
Related Celent Research | 21 | |