On June 23, MSCI released its 2026 market classification review and declined to upgrade South Korea to developed market status. MSCI said Korean regulators have announced a series of reforms but key market-access issues remain unresolved, so the market will stay classified as emerging. MSCI reiterated its classification framework is based on the actual market accessibility and investment experience of international institutional investors and that classifications are reassessed as conditions cha

On June 23, MSCI released its 2026 market classification review and declined to upgrade South Korea to developed market status. MSCI said Korean regulators have announced a series of reforms but key market-access issues remain unresolved, so the market will stay classified as emerging. MSCI reiterated its classification framework is based on the actual market accessibility and investment experience of international institutional investors and that classifications are reassessed as conditions change.