Seoul: The value of South Korea's investment funds jumped 26 percent in the first half of this year from six months earlier, thanks to an increase in funds traded on stock exchanges, data showed Friday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the net asset value of South Korean investment funds came to 1,734.5 trillion won (US$1.2 trillion) as of end-June, up 358 trillion won from the second half of last year.

The gains were largely driven by the performance of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with net assets soaring 72.4 percent from six months earlier to 512 trillion won. This figure marks the highest tally of ETFs since the investment vehicle was introduced to the local stock market in 2002.

ETFs are investment funds traded on stock exchanges that invest in a basket of stocks tracking an index or commodities and bonds.