Key Takeaways
- • Timefolio Asset Management's TIME Active ETF brand has surpassed 9.0747 trillion won (~$6.0 billion) in AUM as of May 2026, just five years after launch, establishing dominant market position with 26% share in domestic equity-type active ETFs.
- • Flagship TIME KOSPI Active ETF delivered 217% cumulative return since May 2021 listing, outperforming the KOSPI benchmark by 58 percentage points; TIME Global AI Artificial Intelligence Active ETF achieved 555% return since May 2023 launch with 2.4074 trillion won AUM, ranking first among domestic listed equity-type active ETFs.
- • TIME Korea Plus Dividend Active ETF surpassed 1 trillion won in AUM with 195% total return including dividends over the past year and has paid special dividends for three consecutive years, demonstrating sustained investor demand in the dividend strategy segment.
- • Timefolio manages 19 products across 8 domestic and 11 global ETFs, leveraging research capabilities developed through hedge fund management to generate excess returns in a market historically dominated by passive ETF offerings.
Summary
Timefolio Asset Management's TIME Active ETF lineup has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 9.0747 trillion won in assets under management as of May 31, 2026, according to the firm's announcement on June 1. This achievement marks a rapid five-year growth trajectory since the active ETF brand's launch, positioning Timefolio as the undisputed leader in South Korea's domestic equity-type active ETF market with a commanding 26% market share.
The firm's success reflects a strategic differentiation from the historically passive-ETF-dominated Korean market. Timefolio leveraged research capabilities developed through its hedge fund management operations and demonstrated agile market responsiveness to establish its ability to generate consistent excess returns. The company currently operates 19 products, comprising 8 domestic and 11 global ETFs, providing institutional and retail investors with diversified exposure across multiple strategies and geographies.
Performance metrics across Timefolio's flagship products substantiate the active management thesis. The TIME KOSPI Active ETF, listed in May 2021, delivered a 217% cumulative return through May 27, 2026, significantly outperforming the KOSPI Index's 159% gain by 58 percentage points. The TIME Global AI Artificial Intelligence Active ETF, launched in May 2023, achieved exceptional performance with a 555% return through May 27, 2026, and commands the top position among domestic listed equity-type active ETFs with 2.4074 trillion won in AUM. The TIME Korea Plus Dividend Active ETF expanded its footprint in the monthly dividend segment with 195% total return including dividends over the past year and has surpassed the critical 1 trillion won AUM threshold, supported by three consecutive years of special dividend distributions.
These results underscore sustained investor confidence in Timefolio's active management approach amid broader market volatility and competitive pressures from passive index strategies. The concentration of assets in high-performing products, particularly the AI-focused ETF, reflects institutional appetite for thematic exposure combined with active oversight.
The firm's success reflects a strategic differentiation from the historically passive-ETF-dominated Korean market. Timefolio leveraged research capabilities developed through its hedge fund management operations and demonstrated agile market responsiveness to establish its ability to generate consistent excess returns. The company currently operates 19 products, comprising 8 domestic and 11 global ETFs, providing institutional and retail investors with diversified exposure across multiple strategies and geographies.
Performance metrics across Timefolio's flagship products substantiate the active management thesis. The TIME KOSPI Active ETF, listed in May 2021, delivered a 217% cumulative return through May 27, 2026, significantly outperforming the KOSPI Index's 159% gain by 58 percentage points. The TIME Global AI Artificial Intelligence Active ETF, launched in May 2023, achieved exceptional performance with a 555% return through May 27, 2026, and commands the top position among domestic listed equity-type active ETFs with 2.4074 trillion won in AUM. The TIME Korea Plus Dividend Active ETF expanded its footprint in the monthly dividend segment with 195% total return including dividends over the past year and has surpassed the critical 1 trillion won AUM threshold, supported by three consecutive years of special dividend distributions.
These results underscore sustained investor confidence in Timefolio's active management approach amid broader market volatility and competitive pressures from passive index strategies. The concentration of assets in high-performing products, particularly the AI-focused ETF, reflects institutional appetite for thematic exposure combined with active oversight.
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