Korea Electric Power (KEPCO)(KEP)— Korean ADR Guide
2026 live implied price · ADR ratio 0.5:1 · US-Korea dividend tax guide
Korea Electric Power (KEPCO) (KRX: 015760) is a leading Korean utilities company listed on KOSPI. In the US, it trades on the NYSE market as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR) under the ticker KEP. Korea's monopoly electric utility. State-controlled. Beneficiary of nuclear and grid investments. This page provides the live implied USD price based on the Korean share price, the ADR ratio (1 ADR = 0.5 ordinary shares), the US-Korea dividend tax treaty treatment, and a US resident's guide to buying.
How US residents can buy Korea Electric Power (KEPCO) (KEP)
- 1. Pick a broker. Charles Schwab, Fidelity, and Interactive Brokers (IBKR) all support trading KEP on the NYSE. IBKR has the cheapest commissions ($0.005/share, $1 minimum); Schwab and Fidelity are commission-free for this stock.
- 2. Place the order. Search for ticker KEP. It trades like any other NYSE-listed stock.
- 3. Trading hours. Standard US market hours, 9:30am–4:00pm ET. KEP prices are heavily influenced by the prior KOSPI close, but FX moves and US market sentiment during Korean market hours can cause gaps up or down.
Korea Electric Power (KEPCO) ADR Dividend Taxation (US-Korea Tax Treaty)
- Korean withholding tax: 15% (preferential rate under the US-Korea treaty, vs. the standard 25%)
- US side: Claim a Foreign Tax Credit (Form 1116) to offset US tax owed on the same dividend income, avoiding double taxation
- Depositary bank (BNY Mellon, Citibank, etc.) ADR fee: typically $0.01–$0.05 per share, deducted automatically at dividend payment
- Form 1042-S: brokers issue this annually (late January) showing Korean tax withheld
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy Korea Electric Power (KEPCO) from a US brokerage account?
Yes. KEP is listed on the NYSE as a sponsored ADR and trades like any US-listed stock at any major US brokerage (Schwab, Fidelity, Interactive Brokers, etc.).
How are KEP dividends taxed?
Under the US-Korea tax treaty, Korean withholding tax of 15% is deducted first. US residents can claim a foreign tax credit (Form 1116) to offset this against US tax owed. When Korea Electric Power (KEPCO) pays dividends, ADR holders receive the equivalent in USD (after a small depositary fee).
Why does KEP sometimes trade at a different price than the Korean shares?
In theory, the ADR price should equal (Korean share price ÷ exchange rate) × ADR ratio. In practice, premiums or discounts arise from (1) time-zone gaps — Korea's market closes before US trading begins, (2) USD/KRW exchange rate moves, (3) limited ADR liquidity, and (4) arbitrage costs. Even sponsored NYSE ADRs show minute-by-minute deviations.
What does an ADR ratio of 0.5:1 mean?
It means 1 ADR represents 0.5 ordinary shares of Korea Electric Power (KEPCO). When comparing KEP to the Korean share price, you need to multiply (or divide) by 0.5 after FX conversion.