Seven out of ten South Korean companies listed on the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index(KOSPI) paid out over 20 trillion won in dividend payments last year.
 
According to the Korea Exchange(KRX) on Monday, 522 firms, or 72 percent of the 725 listed firms on the main bourse that ended their fiscal year in December, paid cash dividends totaling 20-point-nine trillion won. The figure was a new record and marked a growth of nine-and-a-half percent compared to 2015.
 
The amount of dividends paid by listed South Korean companies has risen gradually, from eleven-point-one trillion won in 2012, eleven-point-eight trillion won in 2013 and about 15 trillion won in 2014.