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Jun Ji-hye

Korea Times Finance Reporter

Hello, I am Jun Ji-hye, a reporter at The Korea Times. I primarily cover financial authorities and write articles on a wide range of topics related to finance and capital markets. If you have any information to share, feel free to email me at jjh@koreatimes.co.kr, and I will review it carefully. I am committed to always doing my best to communicate with readers through high-quality articles.

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Companies

Roller coaster stock: Sam Chun Dang Pharm surges over 400%, then plunges amid doubts

Sam Chun Dang Pharm, which once topped the Kosdaq by market capitalization, has been experiencing heightened volatility in recent weeks, drawing intense investor attention, industry officials said Monday. The stock briefly rose to 1.18 million won ($783) per share late last month, buoyed by strong optimism surrounding its oral insulin project and a licensing deal with a U.S. partner, lifting the company to the top of the Kosdaq. However, allegations that the deal had been overstated, along with doubts about the sustainability of the rally, soon sparked controversy and sent the share price tumbling by nearly half within just three days. CEO Chun In-seok, the company’s largest shareholder, sought to contain the fallout by canceling a planned large-scale block sale and holding a press conference. Earlier on Monday, the company said Chun had withdrawn his plan, first disclosed on March 24, to carry out a 250 billion won block sale. He had intended to sell 265,700 shares through after-hours transactions between April 23 and May 22 to raise funds for gift tax and other tax liabilities. Rever

Apr 6, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Roller coaster stock: Sam Chun Dang Pharm surges over 400%, then plunges amid doubts
Others

KOSPI, won rebound on Strait of Hormuz transit hopes after sharp plunge

Korean stocks rebounded sharply Friday, snapping the previous session’s steep decline as reports that Iran is exploring measures to keep traffic flowing through the Strait of Hormuz helped restore risk appetite. The Korean won also strengthened against the U.S. dollar, opening higher and building on gains. The benchmark KOSPI opened 2.7 percent higher at 5,375.50 from the previous session and closed up 2.74 percent at 5,377.30 after extending its rally. The index reversed a 4.47 percent plunge a day earlier, triggered by hard-line comments from U.S. President Donald Trump on Iran. The secondary bourse Kosdaq, which had closed down 5.36 percent the previous day, also bounced back, opening 2.16 percent higher at 1,079.17 and finishing the session up 0.70 percent at 1,063.75. In the onshore Seoul foreign exchange market, the won opened 8.9 won higher at 1,510.8 per dollar and advanced further, eventually closing up 14.5 won at 1,505.2 per dollar. The local currency had weakened sharply in the previous session amid heightened geopolitical tensions, closing at 1,519.7 per dollar, down nearly

Apr 3, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
KOSPI, won rebound on Strait of Hormuz transit hopes after sharp plunge
Companies

Hanwha Solutions rights issue sparks shareholder backlash, regulatory scrutiny

Controversy is intensifying over Hanwha Solutions’ planned 2.4 trillion won ($1.6 billion) rights offering, as concerns mount over a potential breach of directors’ fiduciary duties under the revised Commercial Act, alongside coordinated resistance from minority shareholders and growing political criticism, market watchers said Thursday. The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), the country's financial watchdog, has launched a priority review to assess the legitimacy and appropriateness of the capital increase. On March 26, Hanwha Solutions said its board approved a plan to issue 72 million new common shares, raising 2.4 trillion won. Some 1.5 trillion won of the proceeds will be used to repay short-term borrowings and corporate bonds, with the remainder allocated to facility investment. The scale of the issuance, equivalent to about 42 percent of existing shares, and the fact that more than 60 percent of the funds will be used for debt repayment have heightened concerns about share dilution and the transfer of financial strain to shareholders. Reflecting these concerns, the stock fel

Apr 2, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Hanwha Solutions rights issue sparks shareholder backlash, regulatory scrutiny
Others

KOSPI, won rise as Trump, Iran signal potential easing of tensions

Korea’s benchmark KOSPI jumped sharply Wednesday, with the won rebounding after days of losses, as hopes for an end to the Iran conflict strengthened following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump that U.S. forces could end their military campaign in Iran within two to three weeks. KOSPI, which had extended its record-breaking rally after surpassing 6,300 points in late February, slid 12.61 percent over the course of March following the outbreak of the Middle East conflict. A day earlier, the index had fallen about 4 percent to the 5,050 level, but rebounded at the open, surging 277.58 points, or 5.49 percent, to 5,330.04. A buy-side sidecar was triggered early in the session after KOSPI 200 futures climbed 5.19 percent, temporarily suspending program buy orders. The Korea Exchange said the measure took effect at 9:07 a.m. A KOSPI sidecar is activated when futures gain more than 5 percent from a reference price and maintain that level for at least one minute, halting program buy orders for five minutes. KOSPI closed at 5,478.70, up 426.24 points, or 8.44 percent. The secondary Kosdaq a

Apr 1, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
KOSPI, won rise as Trump, Iran signal potential easing of tensions
Others

'Priming domestic demand' vs. 'short-term fix': Cash aid plan draws mixed reactions

Reaction among small business owners is sharply divided over the government's plan to offer up to 600,000 won ($397) in cash assistance to people in the bottom 70 percent income bracket, according to market watchers Wednesday. The government aims to support households and revitalize local economies strained by the ripple effects of the Middle East conflict, with supporters viewing the measure as a potential boost for an economic rebound. Critics, however, argue the move risks being a temporary measure that could add to inflationary pressure. The Ministry of Planning and Budget said the proposal is part of a 26.2 trillion won supplementary budget to cushion households and businesses from rising energy and logistics costs amid the prolonged conflict. The cash assistance program targets about 35.8 million people and allocates about 4.8 trillion won. Under the plan, all eligible recipients will receive a base payment of 100,000 won, with additional amounts determined by income level and place of residence. Those in lower-income brackets outside the Seoul metropolitan area could receive up to

Apr 1, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
'Priming domestic demand' vs. 'short-term fix': Cash aid plan draws mixed reactions
Others

Won-dollar rate exceeds 1,530 for 1st time since 2009

The Korean won breached the 1,530 mark against the U.S. dollar in intraday trading Tuesday, as mounting concerns over a prolonged Middle East conflict weighed on the currency. The level marks its weakest point since March 10, 2009, during the global financial crisis, when it fell to 1,561 per dollar. Equities also came under heavy pressure, with the benchmark KOSPI sliding sharply and nearing the 5,000 level. In the Seoul foreign exchange onshore market, the won opened at 1,519.9 per dollar, down 4.2 won from the previous session, and continued to weaken, briefly touching 1,536 during the day. It later finished at 1,530.1 per dollar, a decline of 14.4 won from the previous session. Pressure on the won had already been building in the previous session’s overnight trading, when it weakened to around 1,521 per dollar, signaling intensifying depreciation. Meanwhile, the Bank of Korea issued a verbal intervention, warning it could step in if market sentiment and herd behavior cause excessive volatility. "While we are not setting a specific target for the exchange rate, the pace of the recent

Mar 31, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Won-dollar rate exceeds 1,530 for 1st time since 2009
Society

Life satisfaction hits record high as isolation eases

Eight in 10 Koreans are satisfied with their lives, as overall life satisfaction rose and social isolation eased over the past year, government data showed Tuesday. Despite these improvements, concerns over ideological divisions and class tensions remained pronounced, with some indicators pointing to a deepening of those conflicts, underscoring a complex social mood. According to data released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, the proportion of people expressing satisfaction with their lives reached 80.8 percent last year, up 5.2 percentage points from 75.6 percent a year earlier. This marks the highest level since the data began to be compiled in 2013. A breakdown by gender showed men expressing satisfaction at 81.2 percent, slightly higher than women at 80.3 percent. By age group, individuals in their 30s recorded the highest satisfaction level at 85.2 percent, while those aged 60 and older reported the lowest at 75.1 percent. Perceptions of work also improved. The share of respondents who said their work was meaningful rose to 79.4 percent, up 3.1 percentage points from the prev

Mar 31, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Life satisfaction hits record high as isolation eases
Policy

Gov't plans cash aid for 35.8 mil. people to cushion oil price shock

The Lee Jae Myung administration plans to distribute cash assistance ranging from 100,000 won ($65) to 600,000 won per person to about 35.8 million people, covering the bottom 70 percent of income earners, in a bid to help offset the strain from elevated oil prices linked to the Middle East conflict, according to the budget ministry Tuesday. The measure, which will require 4.8 trillion won, is part of a 26.2 trillion won supplementary budget plan aimed at cushioning households and businesses from rising energy and logistics costs as the conflict persists. The government’s move reflects an urgent fiscal response as surging global oil prices raise concerns that the Korean economy could face a “triple shock” of high inflation, elevated interest rates and weakening currency. The extra budget plan focuses on easing high oil price pressures as well as supporting vulnerable households, limiting industrial fallout and stabilizing supply chains. Approved at a Cabinet meeting, the bill was submitted to the National Assembly for passage the same day, and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea a

Mar 31, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Gov't plans cash aid for 35.8 mil. people to cushion oil price shock
Others

KOMSCO revives historical figures to spotlight currency's cultural value in cashless era

The Korea Minting and Security Printing Corp. (KOMSCO) on Monday introduced its universe-based marketing project “Wonniverse,” along with a lineup of characters called “JOFAMS,” as part of efforts to shed new light on the cultural significance of currency in an increasingly cashless era and to preserve the legacy of historical figures depicted on Korean banknotes. “Wonniverse” combines the Korean currency unit “won” with the word “universe.” Developed over the course of a year in collaboration with students from Kookmin University, the project presents an original storyline in which notable figures featured on banknotes are reborn in modern times to continue their missions. The three newly introduced JOFAMS characters reinterpret iconic figures from Korean currency as spirit-like beings, adding an element of intrigue. Each character has been designed to reflect and highlight KOMSCO’s core business areas. Hunmin, inspired by King Sejong, who created Korea’s phonetic alphabet, Hangeul, in 1443, is associated with cultural initiatives. Sunsik, based on Admiral Yi Sun

Mar 30, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
KOMSCO revives historical figures to spotlight currency's cultural value in cashless era
Policy

Finance chief signals rotating ban for private cars if oil hits $120

The Korean government may extend its mandatory five-day rotating ban on vehicle operation to include privately owned cars if global oil prices rise past $120 per barrel, Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said Sunday. Appearing on a KBS current affairs program, Koo said the government may need to raise the national resource crisis alert to Level 3 if conditions worsen, adding that extending the restrictions to the private sector could become necessary to secure broader cooperation. "If the crisis escalates to Level 3, oil prices are likely to rise further, making demand restraint unavoidable," he said, adding that while participation by private vehicles is currently voluntary, the measure could become mandatory if the situation deteriorates. Under the five-day rotating ban, vehicles are prohibited from operating one day each week based on the last digit of their license plates — those ending in 1 and 6 on Monday, 2 and 7 on Tuesday, 3 and 8 on Wednesday, 4 and 9 on Thursday and 5 and 0 on Friday, with no restrictions on weekends. As part of efforts to address an energy supply crunch trigge

Mar 29, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Finance chief signals rotating ban for private cars if oil hits $120
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