Why do you presume you must trade S.Korean and Hong Kong stocks if you live in one of those countries? You can trade any market you like. As far as I know the FTT is not for foreign stocks.
You do NOT HAVE to trade ONLY those two. It is crucial where you pay tax. What I am saying is at least those two has NO CapGainTax. If there is other than the two, please tell me. Of course, if you live there, you can trade many stocks in many other countries.
Taxation depends from your situation and can be different for someone else. In the Netherlands you only have to pay 30% taxes on an imaginary return of 4% a year. So you pay 1.2% on your capital. Netherlands is a well developped country and affordable. I know somebody who offically lives there and pays 1.2%. After that all his money is official (so no black money) and can be spent without any risk. He lives most of the time in the South of France but does not pay any taxes there because officially he lives in the Netherlands. He has not Dutch nationality but can live anywhere in Schengen because of European regulations. In his land of origin he should pay around 50% on his profit, but because his profit is managed by himself from outside his native country it is taxed in the Netherlands at 1.2%. And because of a double taxation treaty ge is exmpted from all other taxations.
Then question remains if you are French or live in France and officially reside in Netherlands then why not officially reside in Jersey and pay 0 tax?
He is not French, and to change from his native country to the Netherlands he had to move 15 kilometers. So all his friends, family..... are still at short distance. Jersey is an island and hundreds of kilometers away. For his comfort he is willing to pay 1.2% more then in Jersey. Living conditions are important too and have a very low price.
It is stunning just how many don't seem to understand it is the package that counts and taxation is but one element of the package. Quality of life (friends, family, language personal history, loyalty to a homeland, climate), security -- both actual and perceived ,Newton's first law -- inertia -- and quality of health care ... etc, etc., etc. It really goes back to the fact that while money is important it is not everything and it is particularly not everything once the creature comforts and basic economic security are well in hand. WAKE UP guys ... the grass for many is already pretty green!!
I think it is not stunning. It is a normal reaction from people who don't make money but dream about making money. Once you make a lot of money, quality of life becomes more important then money. Prioritylists change when financial situation changes. When people are poor they think about how to survive, when they are rich they think how to improve quality of life.
Living in a low tax environment is nearly irrelevant if your income is also so low you are fighting to survive. You need to be earning serious six figure money before it matters much.