South Korean retail investors continued accumulating U.S.-focused ETFs despite market volatility and a more than 13% decline in the won-dollar exchange rate. Shinhan Asset Management’s SOL U.S. Dividend Dow Jones ETF recorded cumulative retail net purchases of ₩501.4 billion, or about $368.6 million, while Mirae Asset Global Investments’ TIGER U.S. S&P 500 ETF ranked first among all South Korea-listed ETFs for retail buying during the second half, attracting ₩1.4644 trillion, or about $1.1 billion, over 52 trading days through September 14. The TIGER fund has recorded net retail inflows for 103 consecutive trading days since April 15, with cumulative buying reaching ₩3.0613 trillion. Mirae’s TIGER U.S. Nasdaq100 ETF attracted ₩682.1 billion during the same period, bringing combined inflows into the two benchmark funds to ₩2.1465 trillion. The S&P 500 rose 1.6% as the exchange rate moved from ₩1,549.4 per dollar to ₩1,347.3, creating a currency headwind for unhedged products. The index is scheduled to add Bloom Energy, Everpure and Illumina after its periodic rebalancing, effective at the open on the 21st.