NYSE Arca · ETF
Invest in KDEF ETF from India
Indian and foreign residents can buy PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF (KDEF) units directly through Paasa.
By Paasa · Updated
KDEF at a glance
- Price
- $41.93-$0.59 (1.39%)
- Expense ratio
- 0.65%
- Day range
- $41.66 – $41.95
- Assets
- $109.9M
- Domicile
- the US
- Holdings
- 20
- Launched
- 2025
- Dividends
- Distributing
- 1 month
- -4.16%
- 6 months
- -21.38%
- YTD
- -5.03%
- 1 year
- -12.86%
- 5 years
- —
Price change, excluding dividends.
Top 10 holdings
- 1HANWHA AEROSPACE CO LTD22.2%
- 2LIG NEX1 CO LTD6.8%
- 3KOREA AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD ORD6.7%
- 4HYUNDAI ROTEM CO LTD6.7%
- 5SAMHYUN ORD6.2%
- 6POONGSAN CORP5.8%
- 7SNT MOTIV CO LTD4.3%
- 8WOORI TECHNOLOGY INC4.1%
- 9SATREC INITIATIVE CO LTD4.0%
- 10SPHERE CORP3.8%
KDEF holds 20 securities in total. These 10 are 70.5% of the fund.
Where the money is invested
Sectors
- Industrials85.7%
- Consumer Cyclical7.2%
- Technology3.7%
- Healthcare3.4%
Countries
- South Korea99.9%
- Other0.1%
How to invest in KDEF 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 KDEF and buy
Find the fund by its ticker, KDEF, on NYSE Arca, and place your order. Fractional units are available and there is no minimum trade size, so you can buy by amount.
Why invest in KDEF from India
What KDEF holds
This investment product typically allocates its capital to the underlying assets that constitute its benchmark index. That index is specifically engineered to reflect the financial results of South Korean enterprises with a strong connection to the defense sector, officially referred to as "Korea Defense Companies." During standard operating periods, the fund is obligated to invest a minimum of 80% of its total net assets—encompassing any borrowed funds utilized for investment—in the constituent securities of this index.
Hold a dollar asset
KDEF 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.
Buy a fraction of a unit
Buy by amount, not by unit, and get the matching fraction of one KDEF unit. There is no minimum trade size.
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.
Planning to hold more than $60,000 in US ETFs? Here's what US estate tax means for you.
US-domiciled ETFs held in your own name fall under US estate tax rules. If your US holdings cross $60,000, the amount above that can be taxed at up to 40% when the account passes to your family.
A UCITS ETF tracking a similar market sits outside US estate tax.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy KDEF from India?
Yes. Indian residents can buy PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF (KDEF) through Paasa. It is listed on NYSE Arca 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 KDEF invest in?
PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF holds 20 securities. Its largest holdings are HANWHA AEROSPACE CO LTD (22.2%), LIG NEX1 CO LTD (6.8%) and KOREA AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD ORD (6.7%). Industrials is its largest sector at 85.7%. It is a distributing fund domiciled in the US.
What is the expense ratio of KDEF?
PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index 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 $109.9M.
How are KDEF dividends taxed in India?
PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF is a distributing fund. It pays the dividends from its holdings out to you in cash. The US withholds 25% tax on dividends before they reach you; Paasa files Form W-8BEN for you, and the tax withheld can generally be claimed as a credit when you file in India. 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 KDEF?
The US does not levy capital gains tax on shares for Indian residents. 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.
Can I buy a fraction of one KDEF unit?
Yes. You can buy by amount rather than by unit and add to your position over time. One unit is $41.93, and there is no minimum trade size.
What happens to my KDEF units if I pass away?
US-domiciled ETFs held in your own name fall under US estate tax rules. If your US holdings cross $60,000, the amount above that can be taxed at up to 40% when the account passes to your family. A UCITS ETF tracking a similar market sits outside US estate tax. Paasa's US estate tax calculator shows the exposure for a given portfolio value.