The number of "active" stock trading accounts in South Korea declined in recent weeks amid relatively stagnant market situations, a trade association said Monday.

Stock trading accounts -- accounts holding more than 100,000 won ($90) and being used at least once in the past six months -- totaled 19.9 million last Thursday, according to the Korea Financial Investment Association.

The number of active stock trading accounts peaked at about 20 million on Sept. 21 but fell below the 20 million mark three days later.

The recent decline can be ascribed to relatively slowing stock market conditions.

The domestic stock markets were boosted by the announcement by the European Central Bank to purchase bonds and the so-called third quantitative easing action by the U.S.

But the momentum seems to be fizzling out in recent trading days as individual investors remain on the sidelines for further market moving news.

Reflecting the recent market conditions, the average amount of daily trading on the main bourse soared to as high as 9.2 trillion won on Sept. 14, but it fell to about 4.7 trillion won last Thursday, market data showed. (Yonhap News)