South Korean investors are pouring money into funds that invest in dividend-paying stocks on hopes that a series of measures under review by the country‘s new finance minister will push local companies to increase dividend payouts, data showed Monday.

Dividend funds have received a net 302 billion won ($293 million) this year as of Wednesday, while other stock funds suffered cash outflows during the cited period, according to data compiled by fund evaluator KG Zeroin.

Local stock funds suffered an outflow of 3.48 trillion won during that period. But funds with dividend-paying stocks in their portfolio have soaked up investor money. In June alone, dividend funds posted an inflow of 221 billion won, the data showed. (Yonhap)