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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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New BOK governor pledges 'flexible' monetary policy amid Middle East risks

Shin Hyun-song, the newly appointed governor of the Bank of Korea (BOK), vowed Tuesday to adopt a “prudent yet flexible” approach to safeguard both price and financial stability amid growing uncertainties stemming from the conflict in the Middle East. Shin, who succeeded outgoing Gov. Rhee Chang-yong, made the remarks during a ceremony for his appointment at the central bank annex earlier in the day. He highlighted the dual pressures facing the economy, noting that a surge in global oil prices triggered by the Middle East conflict is simultaneously fueling inflation while weighing on growth. “Market volatility and the risk of mounting financial imbalances also persist,” he said, identifying flexible policy management as a key priority for his four-year term. Shin described the current global economic landscape as being in the middle of a “great transition,” driven by geopolitical risks and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI). He emphasized that AI has already transformed industries and is expected to continue reshaping growth patterns, productivity and labor

Apr 21, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
New BOK governor pledges 'flexible' monetary policy amid Middle East risks
Others

KOSPI eyes record high this week as SK hynix takes center stage

Expectations are mounting that KOSPI could reach a new high this week, as local brokerages project sustained upward momentum in the domestic stock market despite uncertainties stemming from the Middle East crisis, analysts said Monday. They added that strong earnings prospects for major companies, including SK hynix, are likely to underpin further gains and help offset external risks. SK hynix climbed to an all-time high on the day, driven by news that it has begun mass production of a next-generation memory module designed for artificial intelligence (AI) servers, along with optimism over its first-quarter earnings. KOSPI rose in tandem, while secondary bourse Kosdaq, which opened in negative territory, rebounded to trade higher. The benchmark index opened at 6,213.92, up 22 points, or 0.36 percent, from the previous close. Supported by strong institutional buying, it extended gains and closed at 6,219.09, up 27.17 points, or 0.44 percent. The rally was led by SK hynix, the country’s second-largest company by market capitalization. The company said it has begun mass production of a 19

Apr 20, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
KOSPI eyes record high this week as SK hynix takes center stage
Banking & Finance

Financial groups bring affiliates together to boost efficiency

Financial holding companies are accelerating efforts to consolidate their scattered affiliates into unified headquarters, aiming to enhance efficiency by speeding up decision-making and boosting synergies through closer collaboration, industry officials said Monday. Hana Financial Group is set to relocate its headquarters from Seoul’s Jung District to Cheongna International City in Incheon by the end of September. The new headquarters, scheduled for completion in June, will have seven basement levels and 15 floors above ground, accommodating around 2,800 employees from its affiliates. Since 2012, the group has been developing its “Hana Dream Town” in the area, completing a consolidated data center in 2018 and opening its training institute, Hana Global Campus, in 2019. The upcoming relocation will mark the completion of the 15-year project. By bringing together the holding company and the planning and strategy functions of key affiliates, Hana Financial aims to generate synergies through greater operational concentration. Shinhan Financial Group is pursuing a similar strategy, cons

Apr 20, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Financial groups bring affiliates together to boost efficiency
Others

Korea's GDP per capita to trail Taiwan by over $10,000 within 5 years: IMF

Korea’s real gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is expected to trail Taiwan’s by more than $10,000 within five years, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Having lost its lead over Taiwan for the first time in 22 years last year, Korea is likely to see the gap widen each year, reducing the chances of a reversal. According to officials of the Bank of Korea and other financial authorities Sunday, the IMF estimated Korea’s GDP per capita at $37,412 this year, up 3.3 percent from $36,227 a year earlier, in its World Economic Outlook released Wednesday. The global lender expects the country to surpass the $40,000 mark in 2028, reaching $40,695. It had initially projected this milestone for 2029 in its April 2025 report, but brought the timeline forward by one year in its October update and maintained that view in the latest report. Taiwan is expected to reach the threshold sooner. Its GDP per capita is projected to rise 6.6 percent, from $39,489 last year to $42,103 this year, allowing it to exceed $40,000 ahead of Korea. Taiwan is also set to maintain strong growth m

Apr 19, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Korea's GDP per capita to trail Taiwan by over $10,000 within 5 years: IMF
Others

BOK governor appointment stalls over daughter's nationality issue

The National Assembly failed to adopt the confirmation hearing report for Bank of Korea (BOK) governor nominee Shin Hyun-song, Friday, with objections from opposition parties centered on legal concerns over his daughter’s nationality and passport. Rival parties agreed to revisit the issue Monday. The National Assembly Strategy and Finance Committee had already postponed adoption once on Wednesday, the day of Shin’s confirmation hearing, marking the first such delay since the introduction of the parliamentary confirmation system for BOK governors in 2014. Despite renewed discussions on Friday afternoon, lawmakers remained divided and failed to adopt the report. Rep. Lim Lee-ja of the main opposition People Power Party, who chairs the committee, said, “The BOK governorship is too critical to be left vacant, yet some lawmakers oppose adopting the report. Public concerns over the allegations cannot be dismissed, even given Shin’s international reputation.” Shin previously served as head of the Monetary and Economic Department at the Bank for International Settlements, after building

Apr 17, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
BOK governor appointment stalls over daughter's nationality issue
Others

KOSPI pauses near record high amid US-Iran ceasefire caution

The KOSPI took a breather Friday, ending a three-session rally as investors turned cautious amid concerns that U.S.-Iran peace talks may take longer than expected. Despite the pause, local analysts say the stock market remains on track to reach fresh record highs, supported by easing geopolitical tensions and a strong rebound in the semiconductor sector. The country’s benchmark index extended its gains for a third straight day on Thursday, finishing above the 6,200 mark at 6,226.05 on optimism over a potential diplomatic breakthrough in the Middle East. It continued the rally Friday morning, opening higher at 6,227.33, up 0.02 percent from the previous close, but quickly lost momentum and closed at 6,191.92, down 34.13 points, or 0.55 percent. The KOSPI’s record closing high stands at 6,307.27, set on Feb. 26, while its intraday peak of 6,347.41 was reached on Feb. 27. The secondary Kosdaq index opened at 1,166.78, up 3.81 points, or 0.33 percent, from the previous session, and finished the session at 1,170.04, up 7.07 points, or 0.61 percent. The Korean won also came under pressure.

Apr 17, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
KOSPI pauses near record high amid US-Iran ceasefire caution
Banking & Finance

Korean financial firms brace for AI-driven cyber risks from Mythos

Financial authorities and industry players have stepped up vigilance following reports that Mythos, a next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) model developed by U.S. firm Anthropic, can independently detect and exploit security flaws, officials said Friday. While the reports have prompted swift responses from governments and corportations worldwide, concerns are particularly acute in the financial sector, where highly interconnected systems handling payments, transfers and asset management could be severely disrupted if compromised. Experts warn that the risk is amplified by the structure of financial IT environments, in which advanced technologies coexist with decades-old legacy systems, leaving potential gaps in security. “The risks span the entire IT stack, as vulnerabilities could emerge not only in installed applications but also at the operating system level,” a financial industry official said. “Despite differences in network environments, Korea cannot be considered immune, given its heavy reliance on foreign-developed software.” Anthropic recently unveiled Claude Myt

Apr 17, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Korean financial firms brace for AI-driven cyber risks from Mythos
Others

Leverage buying surges as KOSPI extends rally on Iran peace hopes

KOSPI is staging a strong rebound, shaking off the fallout from the Middle East conflict as optimism grows over potential peace talks between the United States and Iran, analysts said Thursday. Improving investor sentiment has also fueled a renewed surge in leveraged stock investment, pushing margin loans to fresh record highs. The country’s benchmark index extended its rally to a third straight session after reclaiming the 6,000 level Tuesday for the first time since March 3. The index opened at 6,149.49, up 58.10 points, or 0.95 percent, from the previous session, and continued to climb, closing above the 6,200 mark at 6,226.05, up 134.66 points, or 2.21 percent. The move marks the first time the index has revisited the 6,200 range since Feb. 27, just ahead of the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran conflict. The tech-heavy Kosdaq also got off to a strong start, opening at 1,163, up 10.57 points, or 0.91 percent, and closed at 1,162.97, up 10.54 points, or 0.91 percent. The rally was attributed to a combination of factors, including a series of media reports indicating progress in peace negotiat

Apr 16, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Leverage buying surges as KOSPI extends rally on Iran peace hopes
Law & Crime

Customs officer uncovers $272 mil. illegal remittances via fintech loophole

Ahn Dan-bi, an official at Seoul Regional Customs, detected about 400 billion won ($272 million) in illicit overseas remittances by cracking down on a fintech-based small-value money transfer operator, marking the first case of its kind, the Korea Customs Service (KCS) said Thursday. In recognition of her role in shutting down money-laundering channels tied to cross-border crimes, the KCS selected her as its “customs officer of the month” for March and presented the award Monday. In an interview with The Korea Times, Ahn said the case was particularly challenging because it differed from conventional crackdowns on illegal remittances. While past investigations typically targeted unregistered operators engaged in underground or alternative remittance services, this case required authorities to probe the internal systems of a legally registered small-value remittance firm. “On the surface, the company appeared to comply with per-transaction and annual transfer limits,” she said. “In reality, however, large sums were being sent overseas through a structure involving duplicate acc

Apr 16, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Customs officer uncovers $272 mil. illegal remittances via fintech loophole
Policy

BOK chief nominee apologizes over asset, nationality controversies at hearing

Bank of Korea (BOK) Gov. nominee Shin Hyun-song apologized to the public during a parliamentary confirmation hearing, Wednesday, over a series of controversies surrounding his ownership of multiple homes, his family’s foreign nationalities and his concentration of assets in foreign currencies. Shin, who served as the head of the monetary and economic department at the Bank for International Settlements, said he was “deeply sorry for causing concern over personal matters during the confirmation process.” While acknowledging that issues related to nationality and other administrative procedures were an “oversight” stemming from his extended stay abroad, he denied pursuing any personal or family gain. He added that he would resolve all outstanding concerns and ensure no suspicions remain, pledging to act in line with the responsibilities of a public official. Criticism ahead of the hearing centered on his ownership of three properties at home and abroad, which runs counter to the Lee Jae Myung administration’s policy direction of tightening regulations on multi-home ownership to

Apr 15, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
BOK chief nominee apologizes over asset, nationality controversies at hearing
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