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Jun Ji-hye

Korea Times Finance Reporter

Jun Ji-hye, a reporter at the finance desk of The Korea Times, focuses primarily on economic policy and government agencies, mainly covering the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Budget and Planning, the National Tax Service and the Korea Customs Service. She previously covered financial authorities, including the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service, and earlier worked on the political, city and business desks, reporting on a wide range of issues.

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How 24-hour FX trading could reshape Korean won

Korea’s 24-hour won-dollar trading, set to launch Monday, is expected to reshape market dynamics as the local currency remains under pressure, with the exchange rate staying above the psychologically important 1,500-per-dollar level for more than 30 consecutive days, analysts said Sunday. While the extended trading hours could fuel greater volatility in the near term, analysts expect the move to improve access for foreign investors and deepen integration with global financial markets over time, laying the groundwork for a more stable exchange rate. Won-dollar trading in Seoul’s foreign exchange market will run from 6 a.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Saturday during U.S. daylight saving time (DST), effectively extending trading on a near 24-hour schedule and significantly lengthening hours from the previous 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. weekday regime. Outside the DST period, hours will shift to 7 a.m. Monday to 7 a.m. Saturday. Dollar trading will also continue on public holidays unless they fall on weekends. Trading in nondollar currencies will remain unchanged at 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Just a year ago, the won

Jul 6, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
How 24-hour FX trading could reshape Korean won
Banking & Finance

Shinhan, Kiwoom face probe over JTBC bond sales amid default fallout

Korea’s financial watchdog has launched inspections into Shinhan Securities and Kiwoom Securities over their distribution of corporate bonds issued by broadcaster JTBC, which is currently under court-led rehabilitation proceedings, industry sources said Thursday. The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) is reviewing whether the two brokerages continued underwriting and selling the bonds despite signs of JTBC’s deteriorating financial condition. It is also examining whether risks were properly disclosed and whether the products were recommended in line with investors’ risk profiles. The move comes amid rising concerns over potential losses for retail investors following JTBC’s default. The crisis at JoongAng Group escalated after JTBC failed to repay a 20.6 billion won ($13.3 million) asset-backed debt at maturity on June 12. Four affiliates, including holding company JoongAng Holdings, subsequently applied for court-led rehabilitation at the Seoul Bankruptcy Court on June 14, with JTBC following suit a day later. Retail investors have filed complaints with the FSS, alleging that se

Jul 2, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Shinhan, Kiwoom face probe over JTBC bond sales amid default fallout
Policy

OECD urges stronger fiscal discipline amid aging population pressures

Korea’s economy is maintaining its growth momentum despite conflict in the Middle East, supported by a recovery in consumption and strong semiconductor exports, the OECD said Thursday. But it also warned that the country’s medium- to long-term growth trajectory is likely to weaken due to persistently low fertility rates and a rapidly aging population. In its latest OECD Economic Surveys: Korea 2026 report, the Paris-based organization said fiscal policy should continue to support recovery in domestic demand in the short term, while stressing the need for stronger medium-term fiscal consolidation to address risks. The organization projected Korea’s economy to grow 2.6 percent this year, while consumer inflation is also expected to average 2.6 percent. For 2027, the OECD forecast economic growth to slow to 1.9 percent, with inflation easing to 2.2 percent. In its March report, the OECD cut its growth outlook for Korea this year to 1.7 percent from 2.1 percent, citing concerns over the conflict in the Middle East and rising energy costs. It then sharply revised its assessment in June,

Jul 2, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
OECD urges stronger fiscal discipline amid aging population pressures
Banking & Finance

KB, Shinhan, Hana, Woori face mounting headwinds despite solid profits

Korea’s four major financial holding companies are on track to deliver another record-breaking performance in the first half of the year, driven by robust interest income and a booming domestic stock market, industry officials said Thursday. However, the outlook for the remainder of the year is expected to be less upbeat as a persistently weak Korean won, the prospect of interest rate hikes by the Bank of Korea and tighter regulatory pressure weigh on profitability. The combined net profit of KB, Shinhan, Hana and Woori financial groups is projected to reach an all-time high of 11.05 trillion won ($7.1 billion), up 5.7 percent from 10.46 trillion won a year earlier, according to market tracker FnGuide. All four groups are expected to post higher net income compared with a year earlier, with KB Financial Group projected to lead with about 3.68 trillion won. Strong first-half earnings were largely driven by steady net interest income amid higher market interest rates, as well as rising noninterest income supported by gains from securities subsidiaries. However, whether this momentum can b

Jul 2, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
KB, Shinhan, Hana, Woori face mounting headwinds despite solid profits
Companies

Will Homeplus liquidation decision be postponed again?

Homeplus has submitted an amended rehabilitation plan just three days before a court deadline, but its failure to secure a crucial 200 billion won ($129 million) capital injection is increasing uncertainty over whether the troubled retailer will face liquidation, industry sources said Wednesday. The Seoul Bankruptcy Court will now assess the feasibility of the revised proposal to determine whether to continue with rescue proceedings or dissolve the company. Although the current deadline expires this Friday, expectations are rising that the court will defer the date once more to review the new submission. The country’s second-largest retail chain, controlled by private equity firm MBK Partners, filed for corporate rehabilitation on March 4 last year after struggling with financial difficulties and facing credit rating downgrades. The original deadline for court approval of its rehabilitation plan was March 4 this year, but the court first extended it to May 4 before granting an additional extension until this Friday. Bankruptcy law dictates that a rehabilitation scheme must receive appr

Jul 1, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Will Homeplus liquidation decision be postponed again?
Policy

Market braces for pension fund's stock rebalancing

The National Pension Service (NPS) is expected to resume rebalancing its domestic equity portfolio on Wednesday after its allocation to local stocks climbed well above this year’s target, market analysts said Tuesday. They warn that the move could generate selling pressure of as much as 74 trillion won ($48 billion), adding to downside risks if it coincides with continued foreign investors’ selling of Korean equities. Data from Daishin Securities showed that domestic equities accounted for an estimated 30 percent of the NPS portfolio as of Friday, exceeding its 2026 target allocation of 20.8 percent by 9.2 percentage points. The pension fund periodically adjusts its asset mix to keep each asset class in line with its long-term strategic allocation. When an asset’s share moves too far above or below its target level, the NPS sells assets it holds in excess and increases exposure to those it is underweight in. By systematically rebalancing its portfolio, the fund locks in gains after strong market rallies while accumulating assets during market weakness, a strategy aimed at enhancing

Jun 30, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Market braces for pension fund's stock rebalancing
Others

KOSPI edges higher after volatile session as tech stocks drive gains

KOSPI ended slightly higher on Tuesday after opening on a positive note, supported by a strong overnight rally in U.S. technology shares, but overall trading was marked by fluctuations. The index began the session up 22.05 points, or 0.26 percent, at 8,416.70, and briefly built on early momentum. However, it soon drifted into a narrow range as fluctuations persisted throughout the day before closing at 8,476.48, up 81.83 points, or 0.97 percent, from the previous session. Persistent foreign selling acted as a drag on broader upside momentum. In the United States, equities finished higher as a rebound in mega-cap tech stocks helped reverse recent weakness tied to valuation concerns. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.59 percent, breaking above the 52,000 mark for the first time. The S&P 500 rose 1.18 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 2.07 percent. Semiconductor names led the advance, with Nvidia, Micron Technology and Broadcom fueling a 3.83 percent gain in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index. Those positive moves provided some support for Korean chipmakers, though gain

Jun 30, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
KOSPI edges higher after volatile session as tech stocks drive gains
Policy

What's left to curb weak won?

Market attention is increasingly focused on what, if anything, can reverse the won’s slide as the won-dollar exchange rate has remained above the psychologically important 1,500 won level for more than a month despite easing geopolitical tensions, according to industry analysts, Monday. With heavy foreign selling of Korean equities and a stronger U.S. dollar continuing to weigh on the won, concerns are growing that the currency’s weakness may be becoming structural rather than merely reflecting a temporary external shock. The analysts said the key variables that will determine the won’s direction in the second half include whether the pressure of foreign investors’ selling eases, whether the Bank of Korea (BOK) raises its benchmark interest rate and whether an expected influx of U.S. dollars from SK hynix’s $30 billion American depositary receipt (ADR) listing on the Nasdaq next month materializes. The government has also stepped up microlevel measures, including closer monitoring of the offshore non-deliverable forward (NDF) market and illegal foreign exchange transactions. I

Jun 30, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
What's left to curb weak won?
Others

KOSPI slides nearly 6% amid profit-taking in chips

KOSPI tumbled nearly 6 percent on Friday, as the index came under pressure from profit-taking after recent gains, in addition to a sharp overnight decline in U.S. equities. The benchmark index opened down 117.12 points, or 1.31 percent, at 8,813.18 and swung between gains and losses before closing at 8,411.21, down 519.09 points, or 5.81 percent, from the previous session. Heavy losses in large-cap technology stocks amplified the decline, with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix falling 5.29 percent and 8.36 percent, respectively. As selling intensified, pushing KOSPI down more than 8 percent from the previous day’s close for one minute, the Korea Exchange imposed a circuit breaker at 12:10 p.m., halting trading on the main board for 20 minutes. Earlier, a sidecar was triggered at around 11:12 a.m. after KOSPI 200 futures fell more than 5 percent, briefly curbing program-driven selling. The KOSPI circuit breaker was triggered for the fifth time this year, with nearly half of all 11 activations since the mechanism was introduced now occurring this year. In a rare sequence, the safeguard was

Jun 26, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
KOSPI slides nearly 6% amid profit-taking in chips
Others

SK hynix Nasdaq ADR listing seen as potential support for won amid prolonged weakness

SK hynix’s planned American depositary receipt (ADR) listing on the Nasdaq next month is drawing attention as a potential catalyst for easing the won’s prolonged weakness, with the won-dollar exchange rate having remained above the 1,500 won level for nearly a month. Market experts estimate the listing could bring in as much as $30 billion to Korea. Should those funds be converted into won, the resulting increase in dollar supply could help ease upward pressure on the exchange rate and support the local currency. The major chipmaker’s board approved the issuance of new shares for the ADR offering and the Nasdaq listing last Thursday. The ADRs are scheduled to begin trading on July 10, with the subscription and settlement set for July 14. ADRs allow shares of foreign companies to be traded on U.S. stock exchanges, improving access for global investors. SK hynix plans to issue as many as 17.79 million new shares, or about 2.5 percent of its outstanding stock, as part of the Nasdaq ADR listing. Based on the company’s closing share price before the board approved the transaction, the

Jun 26, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
SK hynix Nasdaq ADR listing seen as potential support for won amid prolonged weakness
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