London Stock Exchange ETF segment · UCITS ETF
Invest in IDKO ETF from India
Indian and foreign residents can buy iShares MSCI Korea UCITS ETF (IDKO) units directly through Paasa.
By Paasa · Updated
IDKO at a glance
- Price
- $133.16-$1.70 (1.26%)
- Expense ratio
- 0.65%
- Day range
- $132.44 – $134.49
- Assets
- $1.2B
- Domicile
- Ireland
- Holdings
- 77
- Launched
- 2005
- Dividends
- Distributing
- 1 month
- +0.75%
- 6 months
- +55.22%
- YTD
- +86.97%
- 1 year
- +139.07%
- 5 years
- +134.07%
Price change, excluding dividends.
Top 10 holdings
- 1SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS LTD28.1%
- 2SK HYNIX17.8%
- 3SK SQUARE4.3%
- 4SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS NON VOTING PRE3.7%
- 5SAMSUNG ELECTRO MECHANICS LTD3.5%
- 6KB FINANCIAL GROUP2.5%
- 7HYUNDAI MOTOR2.0%
- 8SHINHAN FINANCIAL GROUP1.9%
- 9DOOSAN ENERBILITY LTD1.5%
- 10HANA FINANCIAL GROUP1.5%
IDKO holds 77 securities in total. These 10 are 66.9% of the fund.
Where the money is invested
Sectors
- Technology60.8%
- Industrials15.1%
- Financial Services10.4%
- Consumer Cyclical4.6%
- Healthcare2.5%
- Communication Services2.5%
Countries
- South Korea99.3%
- Other0.7%
Similar funds
| Fund | Expense ratio | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| CSKRLSEiShares MSCI Korea UCITS ETF USD (Acc) | 0.65% | 863.0M |
| XKSDLSEXtrackers MSCI Korea UCITS ETF 1C | 0.45% | 698.0M |
Assets are shown in each fund's own reporting currency.
How to invest in IDKO from India
Step 1
Open your Paasa account
KYC takes a few minutes: PAN, Aadhaar and address proof. Your brokerage account is opened in your own name with Interactive Brokers.
Step 2
Add funds from your Indian bank account
Remit up to $250,000 a year under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme. Your bank converts the rupees to US dollars at its rate on the day you remit.
Step 3
Search IDKO and buy
Find the fund by its ticker, IDKO, on the London Stock Exchange ETF segment, and place your order.
Why invest in IDKO from India
What IDKO holds
This fund aims to replicate the performance of an equity index featuring companies based in Korea. As of November 2, 2020, its benchmark transitioned from the MSCI Korea Index to the MSCI Korea 20/35 Index, an update that will subsequently be reflected in the benchmark data.
Outside US estate tax
IDKO is domiciled in Ireland, not the US, so it is not a US-situs asset and US estate tax does not apply to it.
Hold a dollar asset
IDKO is priced in US dollars, so a weaker rupee adds to what it's worth in rupees. The rupee depreciated over 85% against the dollar between 2010 and 2025.
Paasa handles the paperwork
Investing abroad brings paperwork with it: remittance filings, capital gains reporting, foreign asset disclosure. Paasa prepares all of it for you. Your India-ready tax reports arrive at year end, ready to file.
Why IDKO's UCITS structure matters for Indian investors
IDKO is domiciled in Ireland, not the US, so it is not a US-situs asset and US estate tax does not apply to it.
On the US shares the fund holds, the 15% US dividend withholding is paid inside the fund, and you cannot claim it as a Foreign Tax Credit in India.
Capital gains are taxed in India the same way as on a US-listed ETF.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy IDKO from India?
Yes. Indian residents can buy iShares MSCI Korea UCITS ETF (IDKO) through Paasa. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange ETF segment and trades in US dollars. Your money leaves India under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme, and the units are held in your own name at Interactive Brokers.
What does IDKO invest in?
iShares MSCI Korea UCITS ETF holds 77 securities. Its largest holdings are SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS LTD (28.1%), SK HYNIX (17.8%) and SK SQUARE (4.3%). Technology is its largest sector at 60.8%. It is a distributing fund domiciled in Ireland.
What is the expense ratio of IDKO?
iShares MSCI Korea UCITS ETF has an expense ratio of 0.65% a year, taken from the fund's assets rather than billed to you. The fund manages about $1.2B.
Is IDKO a UCITS ETF, and why does that matter for Indian investors?
Yes. iShares MSCI Korea UCITS ETF is a UCITS fund domiciled in Ireland. Because it is domiciled outside the US, it is not a US-situs asset, so US estate tax does not apply to it. On the US shares the fund holds, the 15% US dividend withholding is paid inside the fund, and you cannot claim it as a Foreign Tax Credit in India.
How are IDKO dividends taxed in India?
iShares MSCI Korea UCITS ETF is a distributing fund. It pays the dividends from its holdings out to you in cash. Dividends are taxed at your slab rate in India. Paasa's dividend report lists the gross dividend and any tax withheld for each payment.
What tax do I pay in India when I sell IDKO?
In India, gains on foreign ETF units held for more than 24 months are long-term and taxed at 12.5% without indexation, and gains on units held for 24 months or less are short-term and taxed at your income-tax slab rate. Both are worked out in rupees at the USD/INR rate on the day you bought and the day you sold, so the currency move is part of the gain. Paasa's capital-gains statement gives you the figures for your return.