Macquarie Securities will join NEXTRADE as the first foreign securities firm to become a member.

NEXTRADE said on Tuesday it approved Macquarie Securities' membership. The approval brings the total number of NEXTRADE member securities firms to 34.

Macquarie Securities plans to participate first in NEXTRADE's pre-market and after-market in the third quarter of this year. It then plans to complete preparations for smart order routing (SOR) by the fourth quarter to participate in the NXT market.

When NEXTRADE launched on March 4, 2025, it allowed some securities firms to participate first in the pre-market and after-market, taking into account preparation periods. It has since shifted in stages to participation across all markets.

Macquarie Securities' membership is the first case involving a foreign securities firm. NEXTRADE expects the move to lead to expanded participation in the NXT market by foreign securities firms.

NEXTRADE's 34 member securities firms include Kyobo Securities, Daishin Securities, Meritz Securities, Mirae Asset Securities, Samsung Securities, Shinhan Investment Corp, NH Investment & Securities, KB Securities, Kiwoom Securities, Korea Investment & Securities, Hana Securities and Macquarie Securities.

According to NEXTRADE, foreign investors' share of trading value rose to 11.0 percent in April 2026 from 0.4 percent in March 2025. Over the same period, individual investors' share fell to 86.4 percent from 98.5 percent, while institutional investors' share rose to 2.6 percent from 1.1 percent.

NEXTRADE Chief Executive Haksoo Kim (김학수) said, "We welcome Macquarie Securities' membership in NEXTRADE." He added, "We also expect effects such as expanded investment opportunities in the Korean market for global investors using Macquarie Securities, and lower trading costs."

He added, "We will continue to actively attract foreign securities firms to broaden the base of Korea's capital market and enhance global accessibility."