How much do international stock trading fees differ across securities firms? Comparison of trading fees and savings strategies for major securities firms in 2025

The True Meaning of Stock Trading Fees

When investing in stocks, many people focus only on returns and overlook one important factor: trading fees. The fees incurred each time you buy or sell stocks can unexpectedly have a significant impact on your final profit.

Stock trading fees consist of brokerage commissions paid to securities firms, related institution fees paid to exchanges and settlement agencies, and currency exchange fees incurred during overseas investments. Especially since the fee structures for domestic and international stocks are completely different, it’s important to understand what costs are included in each.

Domestic vs. International Stock Trading Fees: What’s the Difference?

For domestic stock trading, you pay a commission to the securities company and also pay fees to the Korea Exchange and the Korea Securities Depository. Generally, brokerage commissions for domestic stocks are lower than those for overseas stocks.

On the other hand, when trading overseas stocks, especially U.S. stocks, the situation is different. Besides the commission paid to the securities firm, currency exchange fees are incurred, and fees for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority(FINRA) must also be paid. Major securities firms typically charge around 0.25% for overseas stock trades based on online trading.

Fee Status of the 5 Major Securities Firms in 2025

Mirae Asset Securities: Domestic stocks 0.136%, U.S. stocks 0.25% | New/dormant customers: 90 days free for domestic and U.S. stocks

Korea Investment & Securities: Domestic stocks 0.147%, U.S. stocks 0.25% | New customers using banking services: 3 months free for U.S. stocks

Samsung Securities: Domestic stocks 0.147216% + 1,500 KRW(for transactions under 10 million KRW), U.S. stocks 0.25% | New/dormant customers: 3 months free for U.S. stocks

Kiwoom Securities: Domestic stocks 0.015%(based on HeroMUN4), U.S. stocks 0.25% | New/dormant customers: 3 months free for U.S. stocks

Shinhan Investment Corp.: Domestic stocks 0.1391639% + 2,000 KRW(for transactions under 30 million KRW), U.S. stocks 0.25% | New/dormant customers: 1 year free for U.S. stocks

While overseas stock trading fees don’t vary much among securities firms, domestic stock fees can vary significantly depending on the transaction amount and platform. Especially for small, frequent trades, whether a fixed fee applies can greatly affect your results.

Small Fees Add Up to Make a Huge Difference

Let’s assume you make 10 trades with 1 million KRW each, earning 10% profit per trade. If the fee is 0.1%, your final profit would be about 2.57 million KRW; at 0.2%, it’s about 2.54 million KRW. The difference seems only 20,000 to 30,000 KRW, but as the trading scale and frequency increase, this gap grows exponentially.

Fixed fees are also significant. For example, Samsung Securities charges a fixed 1,500 KRW for transactions under 10 million KRW. Doing 100 trades would total 150,000 KRW in fixed fees. For investors trading small amounts frequently, such costs can substantially reduce actual returns.

Practical Tips to Reduce Fees

Understand the fee structure precisely: Before trading, be sure to check the fee system of the securities firm you plan to use. It’s important to verify not only the percentage-based fees but also whether fixed fees apply and how fees differ by transaction amount.

Take advantage of new customer benefits: Most securities firms offer fee waiver events for new and dormant customers. It’s best to apply for these benefits just before you start trading, and if there are options to choose when to begin, start when you’re fully ready to trade actively.

Manage trading scale and frequency: Trading a larger amount in one go is more cost-effective than splitting into small trades. This strategy is especially effective at firms with fixed fees.

Check currency exchange fees: When investing overseas, currency exchange through securities firms may have less favorable rates than banks or specialized currency exchange services. It’s wise to exchange currency when rates are favorable or to confirm if the firm offers preferential exchange rates.

Choose the right securities firm for you: The optimal firm depends on your expected trading volume and style. Frequent small trades may benefit from a firm with no fixed fees, while large, single transactions may be better with a firm offering preferential rates based on transaction size.

In Conclusion

Fees in stock trading can significantly impact your final profit more than you might expect. The choice of securities firm and trading conditions can lead to very different outcomes even with the same investment. By carefully comparing fee structures and taking advantage of ongoing promotions, you can greatly reduce your trading costs.