iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY) Performance
EWY total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +55.6% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +71.7% total return
- 5 years
- +15.9% a year
- 10 years
- +12.5% a year
- Since first price
- +9.4% a year since 2000
EWY trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | EWY total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −18.5% | −18.5% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −13.0% | −13.0% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +0.4% | +0.4% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +55.6% | +55.6% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +71.7% | +67.9% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +184.5%+41.7%/yr | +164.9% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +109.0%+15.9%/yr | +88.2% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +225.1%+12.5%/yr | +169.2% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +267.4%+9.1%/yr | +185.5% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +340.6%+7.7%/yr | +224.7% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionMay 12, 2000 | +970.6%+9.4%/yr | +668.3% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: EWY vs SPY
From May 12, 2000: EWY grew to $107,062, SPY to $84,924.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
EWY returns by calendar year
17 of 25 full years positive. Best 2025 (+95.3%), worst 2008 (−56.0%). 2026 is year to date.
EWY annual returns table
| Year | EWY | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +55.6% | −34.2% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +95.3% | −16.3% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | −20.5% | −24.4% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +19.1% | −19.5% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −26.6% | −40.6% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | −7.6% | −21.3% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +39.4% | −39.2% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +8.0% | −21.6% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −20.4% | −28.1% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +45.0% | −8.2% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +8.4% | −12.0% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −8.0% | −29.0% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −13.5% | −18.5% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +3.6% | −22.8% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +21.9% | −15.9% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −13.5% | −34.7% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +29.6% | −20.4% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +71.8% | −32.8% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −56.0% | −69.7% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +31.7% | −18.9% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +11.1% | −23.2% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | +53.9% | −12.2% | +4.8% | +1.6% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | +17.2% | −28.0% | +10.7% | +10.5% | +3.8% |
| 2003 | +37.8% | −25.6% | +28.2% | +49.7% | — |
| 2002 | +3.6% | −32.4% | −21.6% | −37.4% | — |
| 2001 | +45.7% | −31.7% | −11.8% | −33.3% | — |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
EWY largest drawdowns
Now 31.0% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2007 | −74.1% | Nov 20, 2008 | May 15, 2017 | 1.1 years | 9.5 years |
| Jun 9, 2000 | −50.8% | Sep 20, 2001 | Mar 6, 2002 | 1.3 years | 1.7 years |
| Jan 8, 2021 | −49.7% | Sep 30, 2022 | Oct 20, 2025 | 1.7 years | 4.8 years |
| Jan 26, 2018 | −48.9% | Mar 23, 2020 | Nov 24, 2020 | 2.2 years | 2.8 years |
| Apr 23, 2002 | −38.2% | Mar 31, 2003 | Oct 13, 2003 | 11 months | 1.5 years |
| Jun 18, 2026 | −34.2% | Jul 29, 2026 | not yet | 41 days | 4 months so far |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
EWY risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +49.4% | +20.3% | +14.3% | +10.3% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 42.6% | 38.1% | 30.8% | 30.4% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.05 | 0.57 | 0.51 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 2.17 | 1.05 | 0.89 | — |
| Best month | +30.7% | +30.7% | +30.7% | +30.7% |
| Worst month | −22.2% | −22.2% | −22.2% | −28.5% |
| Best 12 months | +247.1% | +247.1% | +247.1% | +247.1% |
| Worst 12 months | −20.5% | −40.0% | −40.0% | −63.3% |
| Positive months | 58% | 53% | 57% | 57% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.92 | 1.50 | 1.23 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.56 | 0.62 | 0.61 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
EWY rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 306 | −63.3% | +10.6% | +247.1% | 65% |
| 3-year (a year) | 282 | −21.5% | +6.5% | +52.1% | 72% |
| 5-year (a year) | 258 | −5.5% | +5.7% | +33.8% | 85% |
| 10-year (a year) | 198 | −0.6% | +5.0% | +18.9% | 99% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2000. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
EWY performance overview
iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY) returned +71.7% over the past year and +12.5% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2000 it has returned +9.4% a year, turning $10,000 into about $107,062. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −74.1%, from Oct 31, 2007 to Nov 20, 2008, and it took 8.5 years to get back to the old high. EWY finished 17 of its 25 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2025 (+95.3%) and the worst 2008 (−56.0%). Volatility has been 30.4% a year.
Related: EWY chart, EWY holdings, EWY dividends. See the EWY overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
EWY performance FAQ
What is the EWY return over the past year?
EWY returned +71.7% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 67.9%.
What is the average annual return of EWY?
EWY has returned +15.9% a year over 5 years, +12.5% a year over 10 years, +9.4% a year since May 12, 2000 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in EWY be worth?
$10,000 invested in EWY at its first recorded close on May 12, 2000 would be worth about $107,062 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for EWY?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −56.0%. The best was 2025 at +95.3%.
What is the biggest drawdown of EWY?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −74.1% between October 31, 2007 and November 20, 2008. It recovered to the old high on May 15, 2017, 8.5 years after the bottom.
How volatile is EWY?
Over the past 3 years EWY had an annualized volatility of 42.6% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.05 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).