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Lee Yeon-woo

Korea Times Finance Reporter

Lee Yeon-woo is a financial journalist at The Korea Times. Her wide range of reporting includes policies, macroeconomics, stock market, companies and even crypto. She is passionate about connecting the dots in Korean finance and making it easier for foreign nationals to understand. Based on her previous experience as a national reporter, she also has a keen interest in social issues within the sector, including gender equality and ESG. Your tips and insights are always appreciated. You can send them to yanu@koreatimes.co.kr.

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Cryptocurrency

PHOTO Bitcoin falls below $90,000 for 1st time in 7 months

The price of Bitcoin is displayed on an electronic board at Bithumb in Seoul, Tuesday, as the cryptocurrency dropped below $90,000 for the first time in seven months. It briefly tumbled more than 5 percent to $89,201 at around 1:45 p.m., according to Coinbase, before trimming losses and stabilizing closer to $90,000. The decline tracks a broader pullback in risk assets, driven by hawkish signals from U.S. Federal Reserve officials and mounting concerns over a potential artificial intelligence bubble. Bitcoin last fell below this level in April when it plunged to $74,400 amid uncertainty over the U.S. tariff policy. Yonhap

Nov 18, 2025By Lee Yeon-woophoto
[PHOTO] Bitcoin falls below $90,000 for 1st time in 7 months
Banking & Finance

KOFIA faces first-ever incumbent reelection bid in 3-way race

Korea Financial Investment Association (KOFIA) Chairman Seo Yoo-seok is seeking a second term — the first incumbent to do so — turning next month’s election into a three-way contest, industry officials said Tuesday. The race pits Seo against Hwang Seong-yeop, co-CEO of Shinyoung Securities, and Lee Hyun-seung, former CEO of KB Asset Management. Seo officially announced his candidacy Monday at a press briefing in Yeouido, Seoul. He said continuity is his key strength. "Over the past three years, I’ve built strong relationships with financial regulators, the government, the National Assembly and related institutions," Seo said. "A newcomer would need more than two years to develop that network." He called the coming years a "critical golden time" for Korea’s capital markets and emphasized the need for stable leadership. Seo added he would stay clear of campaign-related activities during the election period. Lee and Hwang, who declared their bids earlier, have already outlined detailed pledges. Hwang, who joined Shinyoung in 1987 and has stayed with the firm since, vowed to shift Kor

Nov 18, 2025By Lee Yeon-woo
KOFIA faces first-ever incumbent reelection bid in 3-way race
Cryptocurrency

After 3 delays, Korea still unprepared for 2027 crypto tax rollout

Korea plans to begin taxing virtual assets in January 2027, but the government has yet to establish the infrastructure or release detailed guidelines, industry officials said Tuesday. That leaves the country lagging behind regional peers, which are rapidly integrating digital assets into mainstream regulatory frameworks. Japan offers the most recent example. Its Financial Services Agency is pushing to classify 105 cryptocurrencies traded on domestic exchanges as financial products, Asahi Shimbun reported on Monday. Profits from these assets are expected to be taxed at roughly 20 percent — the same rate applied to stocks and investment funds. Korea has adopted a similar framework, planning to tax virtual asset gains as other income at a 22 percent separate rate for individuals earning over 2.5 million won ($1,705) annually from trading. Although the law passed in 2020, implementation has been delayed three times — most recently from 2025 to 2027 — due to investor opposition and technical hurdles. "Postponing taxation three times is an unprecedented move rarely seen among major global

Nov 18, 2025By Lee Yeon-woo
After 3 delays, Korea still unprepared for 2027 crypto tax rollout
Banking & Finance

Hanwha's LIFEPLUS NY 2025 empowers young Korean financial pros

LIFEPLUS, a joint brand of Hanwha Group's financial affiliates, successfully wrapped up its LIFEPLUS NY 2025 event on Friday (local time) at the Glasshouse in New York, Hanwha Life said Monday. LIFEPLUS NY 2025 is a global talent development platform aimed at helping young Korean financial professionals grow into competitive leaders on the world stage. The initiative also seeks to build a network connecting Korea and the U.S. while fostering a sustainable financial ecosystem. Now in its third year, the event was held under the theme "Connecting Dreams." Financial and technology experts from Korea and the U.S., along with next-generation leaders, gathered to discuss the convergence of finance and technology. The event was highlighted by the participation of executives from market-leading companies, including Blackstone; Morgan Stanley; Ethereum Foundation, a nonprofit supporting the Ethereum ecosystem; LinqAlpha, an AI-powered investment research platform; and Hyperithm, a digital asset manager. According to Hanwha Life, the participants shared the view that the next generation of Korean

Nov 17, 2025By Lee Yeon-woo
Hanwha's LIFEPLUS NY 2025 empowers young Korean financial pros
Economy

BOK rate cut hopes fade as financial risks persist

Expectations for a Bank of Korea (BOK) rate cut this year have diminished sharply as financial stability risks grow, analysts said Monday. Despite resilient exports and signs of a gradual domestic demand recovery, the BOK faces mounting challenges from sticky housing price expectations and a won-dollar exchange rate hovering in the upper 1,400-won level. The central bank's final monetary decision of the year is due Nov. 27. The Monetary Policy Committee has held the base rate at 2.5 percent since May, following four cuts between October last year and May this year. Officials have cited concerns over real estate volatility and currency pressures as key reasons to pause further easing — factors that continue to loom over the November decision. "Financial stability risks will be the most important reason for the committee to keep the base rate unchanged at its final meeting of 2025," said Choi Ji-uk, chief economist at Korea Investment & Securities. "Even though investment negotiations with the U.S. have concluded, exchange rate volatility has increased further since the October meeting du

Nov 17, 2025By Lee Yeon-woo
BOK rate cut hopes fade as financial risks persist
Economy

Korean investors snap up US stocks despite AI bubble fears

Korean retail investors have ramped up U.S. stock purchases this month, shrugging off mounting concerns over a potential artificial intelligence (AI)-driven market bubble, data showed Sunday. According to the Korea Securities Depository, retail investors logged $3.63 billion in net purchases of overseas equities from Nov. 1 through Friday. Nearly the entire volume of overseas stock purchases went into U.S. equities. This month's net buying is far outpacing last month's, with the volume already more than double that of the same period in October. The buying spree follows October's record-breaking $6.8 billion in net purchases — 2.5 times September's total and the highest since data tracking began in 2011. The sustained appetite suggests that investors are averaging down amid a pullback in major U.S. benchmarks, with some market watchers drawing parallels between the current AI rally and the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s. Meta Platforms was the most heavily purchased stock by Korean retail investors from Nov. 1 to Friday, attracting $560 million in net inflows. Nvidia, seen as the bel

Nov 17, 2025By Lee Yeon-woo
Korean investors snap up US stocks despite AI bubble fears
Cryptocurrency

Trading drought puts crypto exchange earnings at risk

Korea's cryptocurrency exchanges are facing mounting earnings pressure as a sharp market downturn erodes trading volumes, industry officials said Sunday. The slump marks a stark reversal from the third quarter, when soaring crypto prices fueled record profits. According to disclosures filed with the Financial Supervisory Service, Dunamu, operator of Upbit, posted 235.3 billion won ($161.7 million) in operating profit, up 180 percent from a year earlier. Revenue jumped 104 percent to 385.9 billion won, while net income quadrupled to 239 billion won. Bithumb also surged, with operating profit rising nearly eightfold to 70.1 billion won. Revenue increased 184 percent to 196 billion won, while net income soared 34-fold to 105.4 billion won. Both firms attributed their strong quarter to rebounding digital asset prices and a surge in trading activity. Market sentiment improved on signs of U.S. legislative progress, including the approval of the GENIUS Act, and was further lifted by an Ethereum rally and growing expectations of U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. But momentum has since stal

Nov 16, 2025By Lee Yeon-woo
Trading drought puts crypto exchange earnings at risk
Economy

Weakening yen intensifies pressure on Korean won

The Korean won extended its losses against the U.S. dollar on Thursday, briefly breaching the 1,470 won level and raising concerns that it could test the 1,480 won mark last seen in December during the declaration of martial law, analysts said. The currency's decline appears to be driven by a combination of factors, including increased outbound investment by Korean investors and persistent uncertainty surrounding Korea's planned $350 billion investment in the U.S. Yet, one key factor lies beyond the reach of domestic policy: the continued depreciation of the Japanese yen. The won-dollar exchange rate closed at 1,467.7 won, Thursday, up 2.0 won from the previous day. The currency extended its slide after the market opened, falling to as low as 1,475.2 won by 10:30 a.m. The break above 1,470 marked the first time the won crossed that threshold since April 9, during a period of heightened U.S.-China tensions. "The yen's weakness is bolstering the dollar, and this offshore dollar buying — long positioning — is adding instability to the won–dollar exchange rate," said Min Gyeong-won, an

Nov 13, 2025By Lee Yeon-woo
Weakening yen intensifies pressure on Korean won
Banking & Finance

Korean brokerages near 'W2 tril. club' amid trading boom

A growing number of Korean brokerages have surpassed 1 trillion won ($681.8 million) in operating profit this year, driven by a buoyant stock market and a surge in both retail and institutional trading, industry officials said Thursday. The 2-trillion-won threshold is generating growing anticipation — a milestone that would mark a first for the sector. Korea Investment & Securities reported its third-quarter operating profit soared 117.8 percent from a year earlier to 835.3 billion won. Cumulative profit for the first three quarters reached 1.98 trillion won, putting the firm on track to join the so-called "2 trillion won club" by year-end, according to analysts. Other major firms are also seeing robust gains. Samsung Securities, Kiwoom Securities, Mirae Asset Securities, and NH Investment & Securities posted cumulative operating profits of 1 trillion won, 1.14 trillion won, 1.07 trillion won and 1 trillion won, respectively — already crossing the 1 trillion won threshold within three quarters. Trading activity remains the primary driver. Average daily trading volume in the domestic

Nov 13, 2025By Lee Yeon-woo
Korean brokerages near 'W2 tril. club' amid trading boom
Companies

Korea's mega unicorns rush toward IPOs as market heats up

A wave of Korean unicorns is lining up for initial public offerings (IPO), betting on resurgent investor appetite and a bullish stock market, industry officials said Wednesday. Kbank filed Monday for a preliminary review with the Korea Exchange to list on the KOSPI, targeting a debut in the first half of 2026. The internet-only bank is eyeing a valuation of about 5 trillion won ($3.4 billion). Essex Solutions, a U.S.-based affiliate of LS Group and North America's top wire supplier, also submitted a listing application on Friday. The firm, which counts Tesla as a key client, is expected to seek a valuation above 2 trillion won. Several other firms across sectors are stepping up efforts to tap public markets. Musinsa, the most high-profile contender, has begun IPO preparations. The K-fashion giant aims to hit a 10 trillion won valuation by ramping up overseas expansion and opening more offline stores. It held a pitch last month for investment banks vying to lead the deal. Goodai Global, the K-beauty label behind the hit brand Beauty of Joseon, is also pushing ahead with its IPO plans, targ

Nov 12, 2025By Lee Yeon-woo
Korea's mega unicorns rush toward IPOs as market heats up
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