Campaign runs through Nov. 6

Meritz Financial Group, Amorepacific among three firms joining effort

Korea Securities Depository [Yonhap]
Korea Securities Depository [Yonhap]

Korea Securities Depository has launched its "2026 Unclaimed Shares Recovery Campaign," running through Nov. 6.

Unclaimed shares are stocks additionally allocated to shareholders holding physical share certificates in their own name — through dividends, bonus share issuances or similar distributions — but never collected, typically because the shareholder's address had changed, leaving the shares in the custody of a share transfer agent.

The depository has run the campaign annually since 2009 to protect shareholders' property rights. Over the 17 years through last year, the total value of unclaimed shares and cash proceeds returned to shareholders reached 1.1122 trillion won, of which shares accounted for 1.1108 trillion won and cash proceeds for 1.34 billion won.

The depository currently holds more than 1 trillion won in unclaimed shares. According to data submitted to Han Min-su, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker on the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee, the depository held a total of 800.84 million unclaimed shares as of end-August, with an assessed value of 1.47 trillion won. The number of shareholders with unclaimed holdings stood at 26,280 — 22,526 individuals and 3,754 corporations.

[Provided by Korea Securities Depository]
[Provided by Korea Securities Depository]

This year, Meritz Financial Group, Amorepacific Holdings and Amorepacific are jointly participating in the campaign.

The depository has mailed campaign notices to individual shareholders whose current residential addresses were confirmed through the Ministry of Interior and Safety. Shareholders who did not receive a notice can still check whether they have unclaimed shares and apply to collect them.

Unclaimed shares and dividends can be looked up through the "Share Search" menu on the depository's securities agency website. Individual shareholders may apply to receive shares valued at up to 5 million won and cash proceeds of up to 1 million won remotely via mobile device.

The remote application process requires identity verification by mobile phone, a photograph of a government-issued ID and bank account authentication. Applicants then enter the brokerage account to receive shares or the bank account to receive cash proceeds.

In-person applications can be made at the depository's Seoul office or regional customer centers. Applicants must bring a valid ID and a brokerage account in the shareholder's name; those holding physical share certificates must also bring the certificates.

Even after the campaign ends, unclaimed shares and dividends can be claimed at any time.


moon@heraldcorp.com