Foreign ownership of South Korean stocks surpassed 480 trillion won, or 408 billion U.S. dollars, last year for the first time.

According to the Financial Supervisory Service(FSS) on Monday, foreign investors bought a net 12-point-one trillion won worth of Korean shares last year, the largest since 2012 when they purchased 17-point-six trillion won.

Foreigners held 481-point-six trillion won worth of Korean stocks at the end of last year, topping the 480-trillion-won mark for the first time.

European capital net bought eight-point-four trillion won worth of Korean shares last year, while American capital bought a net seven-point-seven trillion won.

In the bond market, foreigners sold a net 12-point-three trillion won worth of Korean bonds last year. Their holding of Korean bonds shrank almost 12 percent on-year to about 89 trillion won