EWY vs KF
iShares MSCI South Korea ETF vs The Korea Fund, Inc.
Which is better, EWY or KF?
Each has led over a different period.
EWY led over 1Y, KF over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. EWY is less concentrated, with 61.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 69.0%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | EWY | KF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | - |
| AUM | $23.6B | $298M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.11% | 1.76% |
| Holdings | 84 | 56 |
| YTD Return | +56.36%Best | +51.32% |
| 1Y Return | +97.63%Best | +93.04% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +42.78% | +44.11%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +17.42% | +17.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.5%Best | 41.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -74.0%Best | -77.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $22,321 | $22,761Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 61.4%Best | 69.0% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | The Korea Fund, Inc. (KF) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 9, 2000 | Aug 29, 1984 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 12, 2000 to Oct 14, 2026 (26.4 years).
EWY vs KF growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 26.4 years both funds cover.
EWY vs KF Performance
iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and The Korea Fund, Inc. (KF) is an ETF from The Korea Fund, Inc. (KF). Over the past year EWY returned +97.63% while KF returned +93.04%. Year to date, EWY is up 56.36% versus a gain of 51.32% for KF.
Over three years, EWY compounded at +42.78% per year against +44.11% for KF; over five years the annualized figures are +17.42% and +17.88% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, KF has the edge at +18.92% annualized vs +9.89%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
KF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 41.2% compared with 30.5% for EWY. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -74.0% for EWY and -77.0% for KF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Holdings Overlap
46.3% of EWY's money is in holdings KF also owns. 60.7% of KF's money is in holdings EWY also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 93 days apart, EWY as of Oct 1, 2026 and KF as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
26 positions in common, counted across the 77 positions we hold weights for in EWY and 53 in KF, against full books of 84 and 56.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 0 positions for KF that do not appear in our book for EWY (0.0% of the fund), and 2 for EWY that do not appear in KF (23.1%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in EWY | Weight in KF | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 000660:KRSk Hynix Inc Common Stock KRW 5000 | 24.05% | 27.52% | 3.47% |
| 402340:KRSk Square | 3.10% | 4.38% | 1.28% |
| 009150:KRSamsung Electro-Mechanics Co Ltd | 2.77% | 4.26% | 1.49% |
| 105560:KRKb Financial Group, Inc. | 1.86% | 2.37% | 0.51% |
| 055550:KRShinhan Financial Group Co Ltd | 1.50% | 1.89% | 0.39% |
| 028260:KRSamsung C&T Corp | 1.05% | 1.86% | 0.81% |
| 005935:KRSamsung Electronics Pref 0.9 | 0.05% | 2.47% | 2.42% |
| 32830:KRSamsung Life Insurance Co Ltd Ord Krw500 | 0.90% | 1.41% | 0.51% |
| 12450:KRHanwha Aerospace Co Ltd | 1.20% | 1.07% | 0.13% |
| 329180:KRHyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. | 0.59% | 1.56% | 0.97% |
60.7% of KF is already inside EWY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which performed better, EWY or KF?
Over the past year EWY returned +97.63% vs +93.04% for KF, so EWY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), EWY annualized +9.89% vs +18.92% for KF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EWY or KF?
KF has been the more volatile fund at 41.2% annualized versus 30.5% for EWY. Worst drawdown: EWY -74.0% vs KF -77.0%.
Should I hold both EWY and KF?
EWY and KF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between EWY and KF?
60.7% of KF's money is in holdings EWY also owns. 60.7% of KF's is in holdings EWY also owns. They hold 26 positions in common, counted across the 77 positions we hold weights for in EWY and 53 in KF.
Which pays a higher dividend, EWY or KF?
EWY yields 1.11% while KF yields 1.76%, so KF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is KF better than EWY?
EWY led over 1Y, KF over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. EWY is less concentrated, with 61.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 69.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.