Mirae Asset Global Investments, Korea’s leading asset management firm, is strengthening its foothold in overseas markets by diversifying its investment portfolio with a network spanning more than 12 countries.

Since it made a foray into Hong Kong in 2003 by setting up its first overseas office, the flagship asset management affiliate of Mirae Asset Financial Group has bolstered its presence by establishing subsidiaries in both emerging and developed financial markets like India, Brazil, Taiwan, the U.K. and U.S..

Some 34 percent of the firm’s entire 94 trillion won ($81.7 billion) of assets under management are invested in overseas markets with diversified portfolio in traditional equity and fixed-income products, exchange-traded funds and alternative investments, such as real estate, private equity and hedge funds.

“Mirae Asset Global Investments has grown as the only Korean wealth management firm that directly and locally sells products and profits from the markets. It’s because we were consistent in our overseas business, not clinging to short-term results,” an official at the firm said.

Especially, its global ETFs are gaining momentum. Mirae Asset provides some 176 ETF products in six countries including Canada, Australia and Colombia, overseeing $10.9 billion. The number of listed ETFs and AUM has more than doubled since 2011 when the firm started to push for overseas market expansion, the company said.

By Park Han-na (hnpark@heraldcorp.com)