Samsung Asset Management said on Monday that net assets of the KODEX Semiconductor ETF have surpassed 3 trillion won. Net assets rose about 95.6 percent from 1.7135 trillion won at the end of last year to 3.3521 trillion won.

KODEX Semiconductor holds 49.1 percent or more in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, actively reflecting share price moves in leading South Korean semiconductor stocks.

It also includes key semiconductor materials, parts and equipment companies such as Hanmi Semiconductor and Lino Industrial, diversifying investments across South Korea's semiconductor industry.

The recent surge in net assets reflects a high return of 44.1 percent since the start of the year. On the back of the performance, net retail buying since the start of the year came to nearly 228.6 billion won.

Returns over the past 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year were 27.9 percent, 54.9 percent, 139.5 percent and 169.8 percent, respectively, showing strong performance across short- and long-term periods.

Lee Dae-hwan (이대환), a manager at Samsung Asset Management, said Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have hit record highs since the start of the year, leading gains across the semiconductor sector, and investors are participating efficiently through ETFs.