Key facts
- South Korea has used a two-business-day stock settlement cycle since 1972, the Korea Exchange said.
- The Korea Exchange said authorities plan to complete settlement infrastructure by October 2027.
- The bourse operator said full implementation of the shorter cycle is likely in 2028 if the build goes smoothly.
- The Korea Exchange said the change would let sellers receive proceeds the following day and cut workload through automation and standardization.
The Korea Exchange on November 2, 2026 set out a plan to shorten South Korea's stock settlement cycle to one business day from two, saying the change could improve efficiency in the equity market.
South Korea has used a two-business-day settlement system since 1972, under which investors settle trades two business days after they are executed. Under the proposed plan, settlement would take place one business day after the trade, the bourse operator said in a statement.