Korean brokerages raise pay as market rebound boosts performance bonuses.

A rebound in Korea’s stock market has coincided with a sharp rise in pay for some securities industry staff, as compensation tied to performance has grown more prominent at major firms.

Daol Investment & Securities reported that the average annual salary for its financial investment staff last year was about 435 million won, underscoring the impact of performance-based bonuses on total pay. The figure reflects a significant year-over-year increase and the role of incentive pay in determining salaries at the firm.

Other leading firms show a similar pattern. Kiwoom Securities posted an average salary of about 273 million won for financial investment workers, while Samsung Securities recorded roughly 214 million won. Industry sources say the share of bonuses linked to investment performance has widened, contributing to larger swings in take-home pay.

Across the sector, major players posted higher average salaries for their financial investment personnel. Meritz Securities reported about 196 million won on average, and firms such as NH Investment & Securities, Mirae Asset Securities, Kyobo Securities, Daishin Securities, and Hana Securities also reported averages that largely exceeded 100 million won. The trend illustrates a sustained emphasis on performance-related compensation.

The rise in pay coincides with a boom in market activity. Last year, the average daily turnover on the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) reached about 16.9 trillion won, substantially higher than the prior year. Analysts say higher trading volumes boost brokerage commissions and asset-management profits, which in turn influence staff remuneration.

Because compensation in these firms is heavily skewed toward bonuses tied to performance, pay can be volatile and closely linked to market conditions. A brisk market can drive larger bonuses, while downturns can shrink variable pay even if base salaries remain high by regional standards.

For U.S. readers, the figures matter beyond Korea because Korea is a major gateway for technology and manufacturing supply chains in Asia. Stronger performance-driven pay at Korean brokerages signals robust market liquidity and increasing risk appetite in the region, which can affect cross-border investment flows, the pricing of Asia-focused funds, and the competitive hiring landscape for global banks and asset managers with exposure to Korean markets.

The data come from the Financial Supervisory Service’s electronic disclosures and reflect salaries across notable securities firms operating in Korea. The figures also reflect the importance of the KOSPI and Korea Exchange as barometers of market activity that influence brokerage revenue and, by extension, compensation practices across the sector.