MSCI rival FTSE Group elevated South Korea to developed market status in 2009, meaning the Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEArca: VWO), the largest emerging markets ETF by assets, does not include South Korean equities in its lineup.
The SPDR S&P Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEArca: GMM) also excludes South Korea. Some emerging markets ETFS exclude both South Korea and Taiwan. Those ETFs include the EGShares Emerging Markets Consumer ETF (NYSEArca: ECON), which has over $1 billion in assets under management, and the EGShares Emerging Markets Core ETF (NYSEArca: EMCR).
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
Tom Lydon’s clients own shares of EEM.