[THE INVESTOR] The underlying China-Korea tensions on deployment of the THAAD missile system has not hindered Chinese investors eyeing the local real estate market, industry data showed on June 21.



According to China-based Juwai.com -- a leading portal for buyers of overseas property -- investments surged by 350 percent in the first quarter of 2017. Requests are reportedly growing for three consecutive quarters. In the third quarter of 2016, the request volume rose 90.9 percent, and 93.3 percent in the fourth quarter.











In 2016, Chinese developers invested 2 billion won (US$1.75 million) in Korea. This was despite the deepening row between the two nations over THAAD.



Chinese investors remain interested in the Korean real estate market due to high returns. So far, the funds were concentrated on Jeju Island, but are now being diversified to Seoul, the report said.



By Song Seung-hyun (ssh@heraldcorp.com)