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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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Seoul stocks soar to all-time high on first trading day of 2026

The KOSPI climbed above 4,300 points on Friday, the first trading day of 2026, building on the momentum that lifted the benchmark past the 4,000 points mark for the first time last year. After opening higher, the index continued to gain ground and closed at 4,309.63, up 95.46 points, or 2.27 percent, from the previous session, marking its highest closing on record. The local stock market opened an hour later than usual at 10 a.m. due to an opening ceremony held earlier in the day, while the closing time remained unchanged at 3:30 p.m. Major semiconductor stocks drove the gains, with Samsung Electronics surging 7.17 percent to close at 128,500 won ($89) and SK hynix rising 3.99 percent to finish at 677,000 won. The index’s record-setting performance was further bolstered by strong export figures released during the New Year’s Day holiday. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, outbound shipments in December totaled $69.6 billion, up 13.4 percent from a year earlier and marking the highest December figure on record. The growth rate significantly exceeded the consensus

Jan 2, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Seoul stocks soar to all-time high on first trading day of 2026
Banking & Finance

Korea's top financial groups pledge overhaul as AI, productive finance take center stage in 2026

Korea’s four major financial holding companies — KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana and Woori — will treat the accelerating shift in technology and financial paradigms as both a challenge and an opportunity in 2026, pledging to revamp business models around productive finance while expanding into new growth areas, their chairmen said in New Year’s messages Friday. The leaders shared a focus on accelerating artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation; strengthening risk management and advisory-based businesses amid rapid asset shifts; and maximizing synergies across banking, securities and insurance. They also identified emerging fields such as digital assets and won-based stablecoins as key areas for securing sustainable competitiveness. KB Financial Group Chairman Yang Jong-hee outlined “transition and expansion” as the guiding principle of the group’s management strategy for 2026. “KB should safeguard its existing strengths and foundations while reshaping its business approach to adapt to a changing environment and broadening its reach to customer segments and marke

Jan 2, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Korea's top financial groups pledge overhaul as AI, productive finance take center stage in 2026
Others

AI bubble, won-dollar volatility, Fed policy to test Seoul's stock market in 2026

Concerns over an artificial intelligence (AI) bubble, the weakening won and potential changes in U.S. interest rate policy loom as major variables — so-called “gray rhinos” — that could shake the Korean stock market in 2026, analysts said Thursday. A gray rhino is an economic term referring to a danger that is plainly visible and widely recognized, yet frequently underestimated or inadequately prepared for. It contrasts with a “black swan,” which denotes a shock that emerges without warning. Questions surrounding a possible AI bubble are expected to remain a decisive factor for global technology stocks. Should major tech firms continue their aggressive cloud infrastructure spending as planned, investor anxiety could subside, allowing semiconductor shares to gain additional upward momentum. Experts caution, however, that investment fueled by heavy borrowing could undermine market confidence. Goldman Sachs estimates that capital spending by the five largest cloud computing and storage service providers — Amazon, Google (Alphabet), Meta, Microsoft and Oracle — will total $47

Jan 2, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
AI bubble, won-dollar volatility, Fed policy to test Seoul's stock market in 2026
Cryptocurrency

Mirae Asset's Korbit takeover bid signals shake-up in Korea's crypto market

The domestic crypto market is poised for a major shake-up this year as Mirae Asset Financial Group, a heavyweight in Korea’s financial investment sector, moves to acquire Korbit, the nation’s oldest cryptocurrency exchange, industry officials said Thursday. Korea’s cryptocurrency exchange industry is currently dominated by Upbit and Bithumb, followed by Coinone, Korbit and Gopax. Upbit controls about 63 percent to 65 percent of the market, while Bithumb holds about 30 percent to 31 percent, giving the two platforms overwhelming dominance. Coinone’s share stands at around 5 percent, with Korbit and Gopax each accounting for less than 1 percent. The market, long seen as resistant to disruption, is now showing signs of change, with Mirae Asset Consulting, an affiliate of Mirae Asset Financial Group, in talks to acquire stakes in Korbit held by its largest shareholder, NXC, which owns 60.5 percent, and second-largest shareholder SK Planet, with 31.5 percent. Market watchers estimate the deal could be valued at between 100 billion won ($69 million) and 140 billion won. Mirae Asset’s

Jan 1, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Mirae Asset's Korbit takeover bid signals shake-up in Korea's crypto market
Society

NEW YEAR POLL Frequent regulatory changes undermine Seoul's potential as global business hub

Seoul has potential to become an international business and financial hub, but that potential is undermined by frequent changes in regulations and a workplace culture that makes it difficult for foreign nationals to integrate, a poll showed. The poll was conducted online with 258 foreign residents of Korea by Hankook Research on behalf of The Korea Times from Dec. 18 to 24, 2025, to gauge expats' perceptions of Korea's competitiveness as a global business destination. According to the survey, 72 percent of respondents said Seoul is competitive as a global center for finance and business. Of those, 19 percent described the city as “very competitive,” while 53 percent said it is “competitive.” By age group, respondents in their 30s recorded the highest share of positive assessments at 85 percent. Among foreign residents holding employment visas, 89 percent said Seoul is competitive, suggesting that its perceived strengths are also felt in day-to-day business environments. Frequent changes to the regulatory environment were the most commonly cited obstacle to expanding foreign inves

Jan 1, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
[NEW YEAR POLL] Frequent regulatory changes undermine Seoul's potential as global business hub
Cryptocurrency

Korbit fined $1.9 mil. over anti-money laundering lapses

Cryptocurrency exchange Korbit has been slapped with an institutional warning and a 2.73 billion won ($1.9 million) fine for breaching anti-money laundering rules, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) said Wednesday. The penalties were decided by the sanctions review committee of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), which operates under the country’s top financial regulator. Disciplinary actions were also taken against senior executives, with the company’s CEO receiving a “caution” and the reporting officer facing a “reprimand.” The FIU’s comprehensive on-site inspection uncovered multiple violations of the Act on Reporting and Using Specified Financial Transaction Information, including breaches of customer due diligence requirements, failures to restrict transactions and violations of the ban on dealings with unreported virtual asset service providers. Authorities identified around 22,000 cases involving improper customer identification and transaction controls. Under the law, virtual asset operators are required to block transactions for customers whose verification

Dec 31, 2025By Jun Ji-hye
Korbit fined $1.9 mil. over anti-money laundering lapses
Banking & Finance

Korea to reinforce EV safety coverage in 2026 amid rising fire risks

Compensation systems related to electric vehicle (EV) safety will be reinforced in 2026 as fires and explosions involving EVs continue to rise, insurance industry officials said Wednesday. According to the Korea Life Insurance Association and the General Insurance Association of Korea, mandatory liability insurance covering accidents at EV charging facilities will take effect on the first day of the new year. The insurance will cover bodily injury and property damage caused by fires, explosions or electric shocks at charging stations, and will be mandatory for EV charging operators as well as apartment complexes and other entities required to install chargers. Failure to comply will result in a fine of 2 million won ($1,400). Coverage limits will be set at up to 150 million won per person for bodily injury and up to 1 billion won per accident for property damage. The policy will extend beyond conventional fire incidents to include cases in which charging connectors are damaged due to overheating or electrical malfunctions, resulting in damage to vehicles. Separately, an additional compens

Dec 31, 2025By Jun Ji-hye
Korea to reinforce EV safety coverage in 2026 amid rising fire risks
Banking & Finance

Insurance industry faces muted outlook despite premium hikes in 2026

Although premium hikes for auto insurance and indemnity health insurance are set for 2026, the insurance sector remains pessimistic as modest increases, combined with already elevated loss ratios, are unlikely to deliver a meaningful boost to its profitability, dampening expectations for a swift earnings turnaround, industry officials said Wednesday. After four straight years of cuts, auto insurance premiums are expected to rise for the first time in five years, with financial authorities considering an increase in the low-to-mid 1 percent range. Amid the government’s continued push for “shared growth,” non-life insurers reduced auto insurance premiums for four consecutive years, cutting rates by 1.2 to 1.4 percent in 2022, 2 to 2.5 percent in 2023, 2.1 to 3 percent in 2024 and 0.6 to 1 percent in 2025. At the same time, higher claims per accident and rising costs have put additional pressure on auto insurance loss ratios. Industry data shows that the average auto insurance loss ratio at the four largest non-life insurers — Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, Hyundai Marine & Fire

Dec 31, 2025By Jun Ji-hye
Insurance industry faces muted outlook despite premium hikes in 2026
Banking & Finance

Heads of financial firms attend CES to scout AI opportunities beyond lending

Senior executives of major financial companies will attend CES 2026 in Las Vegas next month to explore how global artificial intelligence (AI) technologies can be applied to financial services, industry officials said Tuesday. KakaoBank will be the only Korean internet-only bank attending the event, while the Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) will be the country's only bank to operate an exhibition booth. KB, Shinhan and Woori financial groups will also send CEOs and digital strategy teams. Financial firms’ growing presence at CES reflects their efforts to explore the future of finance and identify pathways for digital innovation, as earnings foundations come under pressure from a prolonged low-interest-rate environment and tighter regulations. According to KakaoBank, CEO Yun Ho-young, also known as Daniel Yun, will attend alongside members of the bank’s AI and strategy teams to monitor global technology trends. “CES 2026 will showcase AI agents, blockchain-based fintech solutions, AI-driven security technologies and on-device authentication, all of which are directly relevant to the

Dec 31, 2025By Jun Ji-hye
Heads of financial firms attend CES to scout AI opportunities beyond lending
Policy

Life insurance payouts, post office banking to expand under 2026 financial reforms

Starting in 2026, policyholders will be able to receive death benefits from whole life insurance policies in the form of monthly annuity payments during their lifetime to support retirement, while residents in areas without bank branches will be able to access banking services through post offices, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) said Tuesday. The measures are part of a package of financial system changes set to take effect at the start of the year. The country’s top financial regulator said its policy will focus on four priorities — channeling funds toward productive sectors; enhancing fairness and transparency in capital markets; reducing financial burdens on households while strengthening consumer protection; and expanding financial services that support everyday life. Under the new guidance, all 19 life insurers will introduce products beginning Jan. 2 that allow policyholders to unlock part of their death benefit from whole life insurance policies. Through the death benefit liquidity program, customers can receive a portion of the payout in advance, either as an annuit

Dec 30, 2025By Jun Ji-hye
Life insurance payouts, post office banking to expand under 2026 financial reforms
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