[DigitalToday reporter Sangyeop Oh (오상엽)] Mirae Asset Global Investments' U.S. space-themed exchange-traded fund (ETF) has surpassed 2 trillion won in net assets. Retail investor money is seen flowing in quickly as expectations for a SpaceX listing coincide with forecasts for growth in the new space industry.

Mirae Asset Global Investments said on June 5 that net assets in the TIGER U.S. Space Tech ETF have topped 2 trillion won.

The Korea Exchange said the ETF's net assets stood at 2.47 trillion won as of June 5. After listing on April 14 with assets of 30 billion won, it surpassed 1 trillion won in net assets on May 19 and then 2 trillion won on May 28, rapidly expanding in size.

Retail investor money also concentrated in the fund. Since the listing of the TIGER U.S. Space Tech ETF, total net retail buying in U.S. space-themed ETFs listed in South Korea was tallied at 2.12 trillion won. Of that, 1.82 trillion won flowed into the TIGER U.S. Space Tech ETF, accounting for about 86% of total net retail buying.

As of June 4, the ETF posted a 49.6% return over the past month. Net assets continued to rise as price gains coincided with retail inflows.

Major holdings include Rocket Lab, Intuitive Machines, Redwire and AST SpaceMobile. The fund focuses on companies in launch vehicles, satellite manufacturing, lunar exploration and low Earth orbit satellite communications infrastructure.

Expectations for a SpaceX listing are also boosting investment sentiment toward the space industry. The TIGER U.S. Space Tech ETF applies a rule under which it would include SpaceX with a weighting of up to 25% if the company lists.

Growth in Starlink subscribers, rising demand for space communications infrastructure, and growth in lunar exploration and the launch vehicle market are also cited as factors raising expectations for the broader new space industry.

Kim Nam-ho (김남호), head of Global ETF Management at Mirae Asset Global Investments, said, "This performance is the result of differentiated portfolio strategy translating into investor choice." He added, "It is establishing itself as a representative space-themed ETF listed in South Korea."