• Government-issued ID (national ID card or driver's license) — required for the non-face-to-face photo verification
• A bank account in your own name — used for identity verification (e.g., the 1-won verification deposit)
• Investment funds — there is no single right answer, but beginners typically start with a small amount they could afford to lose as a learning cost (e.g., ₩100,000–₩500,000) just to get a feel for the flow

Picking a brokerage will likely be your first decision. Fees, FX spreads, and app convenience vary by firm. Online trading commissions generally sit around 0.1–0.25%, often with new-customer promotions layered on. For a detailed comparison, see the Brokerage Fee Comparison Guide. At the introductory stage, simply remembering that "an app you actually enjoy using" is the best criterion is enough.

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``` STEP 1 — Open an Account (10 minutes)

1. Install your chosen brokerage's app → select "Non-Face-to-Face Account Opening"
2. Photograph your ID + identity verification (e.g., 1-won bank verification)
3. For account type, choose "Comprehensive Brokerage Account (Consigned Trading Account)" — a standard account that lets you trade both domestic and overseas stocks
4. After opening, go to the "Overseas Stock Trading Application" menu and accept the terms (skip this and you won't be able to place US stock orders)

Most applications finish within 10 minutes and trading is often available immediately. However, depending on your financial history, approval can roll over to the next business day — so if you're planning to buy during the US session tonight, open the account during the day beforehand.

US stocks are bought in US dollars. After depositing Korean won, you have two ways to convert it to dollars.

• Manual FX conversion — use the app's currency exchange menu and convert at a time of your choosing. You can take advantage of FX rate discounts (reduced fees).
• Won-denominated order (auto-conversion / integrated margin) — place orders directly from your won balance without pre-converting; the broker handles the conversion. It's convenient, but the discount rate conditions may differ.

In early July 2026, the won/dollar exchange rate is around ₩1,540. The dollar has climbed from the ₩1,470s to the ₩1,550s so far this year (year-to-date high around ₩1,559), so anyone starting US stock investing now is essentially starting out "buying at an expensive dollar." Buying $1,000 worth requires roughly ₩1.54 million, and if the exchange rate falls afterward, even rising stock prices can erode your won-denominated returns. Use the calculator below to get a feel for how FX moves affect your returns.

For structural ways to manage FX risk (hedged products, staggered conversion, etc.), see the detailed breakdown in the FX-Hedged vs. FX-Exposed Guide.

Two common paths are usually suggested for your first purchase.

• Start with an index ETF — S&P 500 ETFs like SPY or VOO that buy a basket of 500 large-cap US stocks in one go. It's a way to invest in "the US market as a whole" without analyzing individual companies, and is the most frequently cited classic starting point for beginners. For a product comparison, see the Complete S&P 500 ETF Guide.
• Start with one share of a company you know — companies whose products you actually use, like Apple (AAPL) or Microsoft (MSFT). It's a good way to get a feel for the dollar amounts involved (e.g., one Apple share at roughly $308 = about ₩470,000 at an exchange rate of ₩1,540).

The tools on this site make the selection process much faster.

First, let's cover when the market is open. The US regular session falls at night in Korean time.

* Pre- and after-market hours vary by brokerage. Some brokers also offer a "daytime trading" service that allows trading during Korean business hours.

For your first order, a limit order is the safest option.

• Limit order — an order with a set price: "I'll only buy at this price or better." It may not get filled, but you won't buy at an unexpected price.
• Market order — buys whatever is available at the current asking price. It's fast, but you can get an unfavorable fill in thinly traded stocks or off-peak hours.
• Scheduled order — if you don't want to stay up at night, set the price and quantity during the day and it will be sent automatically when the market opens.
• Fractional share trading — a service that lets you buy expensive stocks in slices (e.g., 0.1 share). Availability and conditions vary by brokerage.

Enter the quantity and price, submit the order, and you're done once you get a fill notification. Congratulations — you're now a US stock investor. Note that US stocks settle on the next business day after execution (T+1), and if you want to withdraw sale proceeds in Korean won, you'll need to factor in settlement and FX conversion times.

1. Taxes — capital gains over ₩2.5 million a year trigger a 22% capital gains tax, and dividends are withheld at 15% automatically. There's no need to panic about this in your first year, but understand the structure → Complete Tax Guide
2. Exchange rates — your return = price change × FX change. You can earn in dollars and lose in won, or vice versa → FX-Hedged vs. FX-Exposed
3. Tracking and observation — add stocks you're interested in to your Watchlist and track earnings dates for your holdings via the Calendar. You'll be less swayed by news headlines.