Soaring interest in artificial intelligence sends Palantir’s holdings past Apple as Korean investors chase next-generation tech leaders. (Image supported by ChatGPT)
SEOUL, May 5 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean investors are turning their attention from traditional tech giants to artificial intelligence (AI) leaders, with U.S.-based software firm Palantir Technologies now surpassing Apple in Korean-held investment value.
According to data released by the Korea Securities Depository, as of April 30, domestic investors held $4.26 billion (approximately 6 trillion won) in Palantir shares, overtaking Apple’s $4.1 billion (about 5.8 trillion won).
Only Tesla ($19.3 billion) and Nvidia ($10.2 billion) ranked higher in terms of Korean-held U.S. equity positions.
The shift marks a dramatic reversal since the beginning of 2024, when Apple’s holdings among Korean investors were more than double those of Palantir — $4.8 billion to $2.3 billion. The crossover occurred on April 25, 2025, and reflects surging interest in AI stocks.
Year-to-date, South Korean investors have made net purchases of $520 million (about 730 billion won) in Palantir shares, making it the seventh-most-bought foreign equity, following names like Tesla and Nvidia-linked ETFs. By contrast, Apple attracted just $2.33 million (33 billion won) in net new investment.
Palantir, known for its AI-driven defense and intelligence analytics software, has seen its stock price soar more than 53% in 2025 after a staggering 340% rally in 2024. Although shares briefly fell in February on news of potential U.S. defense budget cuts, sentiment quickly recovered amid a broader rebound in tech.
“While macroeconomic uncertainty makes consistent earnings difficult to predict, Palantir undeniably plays a core role in the current AI landscape,” wrote Kim Su-jin, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities, in a recent note.
Investor enthusiasm extends beyond individual stock purchases. According to ETF data platform Koscom ETF CHECK, 73 exchange-traded funds (ETFs) listed in Korea now include Palantir.
These funds have collectively reinvested over 530 billion won, with products like SOL Palantir U.S. Bond Covered Call Hybrid (30.62% Palantir weighting) and KODEX U.S. AI Software TOP10 leading the charge.
The trend underscores a broader pivot among Korean retail investors toward next-generation AI firms, signaling shifting loyalties in global tech investing.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
