What market stabilization measures did Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol discuss amid rising rates and Middle East tensions?

Koo reviewed recent global and domestic financial market conditions with relevant officials and discussed steps to stabilize markets. The government said it would closely monitor the situation as oil prices and rate pressures could make volatility worse.

Why did the government delay the KOSDAQ listing threshold change to July next year?

Officials said the delay was made because the market needed more time to recover from recent volatility. The new threshold was originally planned to start in January.

How will the revised KOSDAQ and KONEX listing rules affect companies?

The revised plan keeps the higher KOSDAQ continued-listing threshold but delays its start, and it also lets qualifying companies move from KOSDAQ to KONEX without a liquidation trading period. The government said this would cushion the impact of delisting.

Finance minister discusses market stabilization amid rising rates, Mideast uncertainty

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Summary

Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol discussed market stabilization measures in Seoul on Friday amid rising global interest rates and renewed Middle East tensions. Officials said higher government bond issuance and corporate bond sales by global AI businesses were adding upward pressure on rates. They also warned that rising crude oil prices could increase volatility and said they would protect vulnerable borrowers from rate hikes. The government delayed a planned KOSDAQ listing threshold increase from January to July next year.

Key Facts

Officials said upward pressure on interest rates has continued because of increased government bond issuance around the world and corporate bond sales by global AI businesses.
The government said rising crude oil prices amid renewed tensions in the Middle East could increase financial market volatility.
The planned increase in the minimum market capitalization requirement for continued KOSDAQ listing from 20 billion won to 30 billion won will be delayed by six months to July next year.
Companies that meet certain financial requirements will be allowed to transfer their listings from KOSDAQ to KONEX without a liquidation trading period.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 4, 2026 10:26 am KST

Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol speaks during a meeting with financial officials at Korea Federation of Banks in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Ministry of Finance and Economy

Korea's finance minister on Friday discussed measures to stabilize financial markets amid growing concerns over rising interest rates and heightened volatility in global markets amid renewed tensions in the Middle East.

Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol reviewed the latest developments in global and domestic financial markets with relevant officials, according to the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

During the meeting, the participants assessed that upward pressure on interest rates has continued due to increased government bond issuance around the globe and corporate bond sales by global artificial intelligence (AI) businesses.

The participants also pointed out that rising crude oil prices amid renewed tensions in the Middle East could increase financial market volatility, vowing to closely monitor the situation.

The government additionally vowed to protect vulnerable borrowers from rate hikes, noting that current conditions remain generally manageable but could deteriorate if interest rates rise sharply.

During the meeting, the participants also reviewed progress in reforming the tech-heavy KOSDAQ market, as the government had planned to raise the minimum market capitalization requirement for continued listing from 20 billion won ($15 million) to 30 billion won starting in January.

They decided to delay implementation of the new threshold by six months to July next year, considering the time needed for the market to recover from recent volatility.

Companies that meet certain financial requirements will also be allowed to transfer their listings from the KOSDAQ to the small businesses-focused Korea New Exchange (KONEX) without undergoing a liquidation trading period to cushion the impact of delisting.

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