As the AI (artificial intelligence) industry grows rapidly, AI and semiconductor exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have emerged as essential investment products. Since the beginning of this year, net assets of AI and semiconductor ETFs in the domestic market have increased by 39 trillion won, reaching a scale of 65 trillion won. The trend shows not only broad-based AI and semiconductor thematic ETFs but also further segmentation and expansion into investment areas such as power, software, and physical AI.
According to the financial investment industry on the 25th, net assets of 129 AI and semiconductor ETFs listed in Korea stood at 64.6856 trillion won (as of September 22), an increase of 39 trillion won since the start of this year. Only 34 new ETFs were launched this year.
AI and semiconductors are currently core themes driving the market. Global stock markets, which had adjusted amid discussions about slowing AI growth, rebounded after Meta's AI agent "Muse" received positive reviews, demonstrating that global market direction is heavily influenced by AI-related trends, making their impact on investment markets enormous.
Since AI investment themes change rapidly, it is important to flexibly monitor trends and make investment decisions accordingly. Experts advise that investing through ETFs that allow diversified investments in industries or companies leading to stable returns at bottleneck points is a useful strategy.
Semiconductors are a prime example. The largest bottleneck in building AI infrastructure is memory semiconductors. Consequently, a memory supercycle (a period of exceptional prosperity) has arrived, and ETFs focused on memory semiconductors led by Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have recently achieved high returns. KODEX AI Semiconductor TOP2 Plus recorded a return of 118.52% since the beginning of the year, while ACE AI Semiconductor TOP3+ reached 111.34%.
In the hardware sector, themes such as optical communications, data centers, power grids, and physical AI are also gaining attention. Listed in Korea are KODEX U.S. AI Optical Communication Network, HANARO U.S. AI Optical Communication TOP10, TIGER U.S. AI Data Center TOP4 Plus, KODEX AI Power Core Facilities, KODEX U.S. AI Power Core Infrastructure, and TIGER Korea AI Power Equipment TOP3 Plus.
Recently, the MLCC (multilayer ceramic capacitor) theme has gained traction. MLCCs are components that supply charge to semiconductors and reduce voltage fluctuations and noise. High-specification products face supply shortages, and expansion speeds remain slow, leading to rising sales prices and improved performance. Kim Jin-young, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, stated, "As U.S. big tech companies expand their data center investments, demand for high-specification MLCCs is also increasing," adding that "the ETF market is incorporating the MLCC supply chain as a new investment area." He noted that four related ETFs were launched in the United States in August.
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