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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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Economy

PHOTO Neighbors protest redevelopment plan for Yongsan Children's Garden

Condolence wreaths are lined up along a sidewalk in front of Yongsan Children’s Garden in Seoul, Saturday, as part of a protest by nearby residents against the government’s plan of redeveloping the park to build new public housing. The government is considering using available land around the capital city to construct 50,000 additional homes, with a comprehensive housing package expected as early as this Thursday. Newsis

Aug 9, 2026By Lee Yeon-woophoto
[PHOTO] Neighbors protest redevelopment plan for Yongsan Children's Garden
Economy

KOSPI slump pushes trading activity to yearly low

Trading value and volume on the KOSPI have dropped to their lowest levels of the year as the benchmark index extended its decline amid weakness in semiconductor heavyweights, data showed Sunday. According to the Korea Exchange, average daily trading value on the KOSPI stood at 26.28 trillion won ($18.6 billion) so far this month. Average daily trading value stood at 27.06 trillion won in January before hovering around the 30 trillion won mark, at 32.234 trillion won in February, 30.143 trillion won in March and 29.551 trillion won in April. It then surged above 50 trillion won in May and June, when the KOSPI rallied sharply, reaching 50.22 trillion won and 50.35 trillion won, respectively. Trading value fell to 36.88 trillion won in July and declined further this month. Trading volume also plunged, with average daily volume falling to a year-to-date low of 301.67 million shares this month. The sharp drop in trading activity appears to reflect the KOSPI's continued weakness in August. The benchmark index has fallen 5.10 percent so far this month, with sidecars triggered twice. The two chip

Aug 9, 2026By Lee Yeon-woo
KOSPI slump pushes trading activity to yearly low
Economy

EXPLAINER Why Lee ordered rethink of ISA and 'stock price suppression' rules

President Lee Jae Myung ordered a full review of the government's proposed overhaul of individual savings accounts (ISAs) and measures targeting the deliberate suppression of share prices. The order came on Friday, just four days after the government unveiled its tax reform plan on Aug. 3. What went wrong? Cuts to existing ISA benefits ISAs offer tax breaks on interest and dividend income, making them a widely used vehicle for retail investors seeking to build wealth. Up to 2 million won ($1,416) of investment income is tax-exempt, while income above that threshold is taxed separately at a preferential rate of 9.9 percent. As part of an effort to channel more money into domestic markets, the government proposed a new "productive finance ISA." Investment income from the account would be fully tax-exempt, with no cap, while investors could contribute as much as 20 million won a year and 200 million won in total over a maximum period of 10 years. But the proposal would scale back benefits available under existing ISAs. The government plans to shorten their maturity and scrap the ability to c

Aug 9, 2026By Lee Yeon-woo
[EXPLAINER] Why Lee ordered rethink of ISA and 'stock price suppression' rules
Economy

KOSPI edges lower as chip weakness, inflation concerns keep investors cautious

The KOSPI edged lower Friday as investors remained cautious, with weakness in chip stocks and lingering inflation concerns over the Middle East conflict keeping risk appetite in check. The benchmark index closed at 6,258.77, down 0.6 percent from the previous session. It opened 1.09 percent higher but gave up its early gains and slipped into negative territory. Foreign investors sold a net 858.1 billion won ($605.7 million) worth of shares, while institutional and retail investors bought a net 579 billion won and 267 billion won, respectively. SK hynix fell 4.88 percent to close at 1.422 million won, while Samsung Electronics edged up 0.22 percent to finish at 231,000 won. Reports that Nvidia is considering lowering the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) specifications for its Rubin Ultra platform dampened sentiment toward chip stocks. SK hynix, which has greater exposure to HBM, came under pressure and dragged the benchmark lower. Still, Micron reiterated that memory supply remains tight, noting that memory chips now account for as much as 50 percent of the value of artificial intelligence comp

Aug 7, 2026By Lee Yeon-woo
KOSPI edges lower as chip weakness, inflation concerns keep investors cautious
Economy

Time for won to catch up with Korea's economic role: Deutsche Bank

Korea accounts for roughly 2 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP), ranks among the world's largest exporters of advanced manufactured goods and is home to strategically important industries. Yet its currency plays a modest financial role relative to the country's economic and industrial weight, according to Deutsche Bank, Friday. In two recent Asia thematic strategy notes, the investment bank said Korea sits at the intersection of three key structural forces: ally-shoring, artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure investment and diversification away from China-related supply risks. These forces are likely to persist for years, directing capital toward industries where Korea already possesses scale, technological leadership and established industrial ecosystems, including semiconductors, batteries, shipbuilding, defense and robotics, the bank said. "The world is increasingly investing in the industries where Korea already leads," said Perry Kojodjojo, an Asian FX strategist at Deutsche Bank. "Manufacturing value added, high-tech exports and current account balances compare fa

Aug 7, 2026By Lee Yeon-woo
Time for won to catch up with Korea's economic role: Deutsche Bank
Business

Flexible digital rules could add 21,000 jobs in Korea: Oxford Economics

A more flexible digital regulatory environment could increase startup formation in Korea by 15 percent and venture capital investment by nearly 20 percent, creating about 21,000 additional startup jobs by 2035, research showed Thursday. The findings come from a new Oxford Economics study, "Digital Regulations and the Startup Ecosystem in South Korea," which examined how regulatory choices could affect the country's startup sector. Under a more enabling policy framework, Korea could see about 240 additional startups formed each year and 2.4 trillion won ($1.7 billion) more in annual venture capital investment between 2026 and 2035. By contrast, a more restrictive approach could reduce startup formation by 8 percent and investment by 10 percent. That would amount to about 130 fewer startups and 1.3 trillion won less in investment annually, as well as around 12,000 fewer startup jobs by 2035. The report said Korea's digital regulatory system places strong emphasis on privacy, security and national interests, drawing in part on approaches pioneered in the European Union. "South Korea's startu

Aug 6, 2026By Lee Yeon-woo
Flexible digital rules could add 21,000 jobs in Korea: Oxford Economics
Tech & Science

LinqAlpha names financial veteran John Chang to board

LinqAlpha, an AI-powered investment research platform, said Wednesday that it appointed global investment banking veteran John Chang as a member of its board of directors. Chang is a financial industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience in global capital markets. He previously served as the Korea country head at Barclays and held senior leadership roles for the Asia-Pacific region at Deutsche Bank. He currently serves as co-founder and general partner of cross-border venture capital firm Access Ventures, where he focuses on investing in global technology companies and fostering startup ecosystems. According to LinqAlpha, Chang has served as the company's strategic adviser since last year, helping expand partnerships with global financial institutions and shape its international business strategy. With his appointment, the company said it will accelerate the execution of its global growth strategy at the board level. "LinqAlpha combines outstanding AI technology with strong execution capabilities to transform investment research and due diligence for institutional investors,"

Aug 6, 2026By Lee Yeon-woo
LinqAlpha names financial veteran John Chang to board
Economy

KOSPI jumps nearly 4% as AI investment sentiment improves

Korea's two main stock markets rallied in tandem Wednesday, as renewed optimism over artificial intelligence (AI) investment lifted the KOSPI and continued retail buying fueled the Kosdaq's advance. The benchmark KOSPI closed at 6,598.26, up 3.76 percent from the previous session. The index opened 3.85 percent higher and soon triggered a buy-side sidecar, marking the 22nd such activation this year. Institutional and retail investors were net sellers of 280.2 billion won ($196.6 million) and 1.18 trillion won worth of shares, respectively. Foreign investors were net buyers of 1.45 trillion won. SK hynix rose 5.77 percent to close at 1,668,000 won, while Samsung Electronics gained 2.5 percent to finish at 246,000 won. The two market heavyweights posted strong gains as investor confidence in the semiconductor sector remained firm. Hyperscalers continued to ramp up AI spending while demonstrating tangible returns on those investments. Sentiment was further boosted by reports that the world's three major memory chipmakers have already sold out their 2027 DRAM and high-bandwidth memory producti

Aug 5, 2026By Lee Yeon-woo
KOSPI jumps nearly 4% as AI investment sentiment improves
Cryptocurrency

Bithumb's IPO push clouded by complex ownership, regulatory scrutiny

Bithumb is renewing its push for an initial public offering (IPO), but the cryptocurrency exchange still faces significant hurdles stemming from its complex ownership structure and heightened regulatory scrutiny, industry officials said Wednesday. The company has been pursuing an IPO since 2020 but has been unable to complete the process for more than six years. One of the biggest unresolved obstacles to its listing is its complex ownership structure. In simplified terms, Bithumb's ownership chain runs from Lee Jung-hoon, the former chairman and founder of Bithumb Holdings, through Bithumb Holdings and ultimately to Bithumb. However, several investment firms sit between Lee and Bithumb Holdings, while numerous companies and individuals are linked through a tangled web of shareholding relationships. According to filings with the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), Lee owns a 50 percent stake in SG Brain Technology Consulting (SG BTC), a Singapore-based company at the top of the exchange’s ownership structure. BK Group Chairman Kim Byung-gun, a plastic surgeon, is the second-largest sha

Aug 5, 2026By Lee Yeon-woo
Bithumb's IPO push clouded by complex ownership, regulatory scrutiny
Politics

DPK official warns against affair allegations over viral cheek-poking video

Lee Ji-eun, left, head of the Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) Mapo A district chapter in Seoul, pokes DPK leadership candidate Jung Chung-rae in the cheek during the party's joint campaign speech event for the Chungcheong region, Saturday. After footage of the moment went viral, Lee apologized Tuesday for the gesture but warned of legal action against those alleging that she and Jung were having an affair. Screenshot from YouTube

Aug 4, 2026By Lee Yeon-woophoto
DPK official warns against affair allegations over viral cheek-poking video
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