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  • Cryptocurrency

    Finance minister nominee backs January crypto tax rollout despite industry, opposition pushback

    The nominee to head the Ministry of Finance and Economy expressed his intention on Sunday to implement the cryptocurrency tax next January as scheduled, despite pushback from both industry players and opposition lawmakers. In written materials submitted to the National Assembly ahead of a confirmation hearing slated for Tuesday, Lee Hyoung-il, who currently serves as first vice finance minister, noted that specific tax rules would be finalized through a National Tax Service public notice by year-end, ensuring taxpayers face no confusion when filing. He also defended classifying crypto asset income as miscellaneous income under the current tax framework, calling it an “appropriate” approach to applying taxpayer-friendly measures, such as a basic deduction and a single tax rate. “Given that stock trades involving major shareholders, foreign equities and unlisted shares, along with transaction taxes, are already subject to taxation, extending tax rules to crypto assets is essential for tax fairness,” he said. The crypto tax regime treats profits from transferring or lending digital

    3 MIN READBy Jun Ji-hye
    Finance minister nominee backs January crypto tax rollout despite industry, opposition pushback
  • Economy

    Korean construction stocks rise on nearing US investment deal

    2 MIN READBy Park Han-sol
    Korean construction stocks rise on nearing US investment deal
  • Economy

    More young Koreans look to stocks, bonds as retirement nest egg

    3 MIN READBy Park Han-sol
    More young Koreans look to stocks, bonds as retirement nest egg
  • Economy

    Foreign investors turn net sellers of Korean bonds in Aug.

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Foreign investors turn net sellers of Korean bonds in Aug.
  • Economy

    KOSPI falls on higher oil prices, global bond yields

    2 MIN READBy Lee Hyo-jin
    KOSPI falls on higher oil prices, global bond yields
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Policy

Finance ministry adds 11 institutions to oversight list without FSS

The finance ministry said Thursday it has newly listed 11 state-run organizations on a surveillance list, leaving the country's financial watchdog off the list amid controversy over alleged lax supervision. A total of 11 state-run organizations met the criteria for public institution status this year, bringing the total number to 342, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The ministry reviews about 500 organizations each year for designation as public institutions, a status that places them under strict government management and oversight. Under the system, the finance minister may also request the dismissal of an institution's chief. The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), which had been under discussion as part of a broader government reorganization last year, was not included in the latest list, the ministry said. The ministry said it decided to defer designating the FSS after comprehensive discussions over the autonomy of financial supervisory functions. "While the authority of the FSS has expanded, there have been continued criticisms related to its public responsibility

Jan 29, 2026By Yonhap
Finance ministry adds 11 institutions to oversight list without FSS
Policy

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo vows to resolve tariff issues through talks with US

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo said Thursday he will make utmost efforts to find reasonable solutions to pending trade issues following President Donald Trump's recent threat to raise tariffs on Korea, as he plans talks with U.S. officials. "I plan to engage in multifaceted discussions to understand the situation within the U.S. government and Congress and find reasonable solutions," Yeo told reporters at Incheon International Airport before departing for Washington. His U.S. visit comes after Trump announced earlier this week that he will raise "reciprocal" tariffs and auto duties on Korea back to 25 percent, citing Seoul's lack of progress in the legislative process in ratifying a tariff deal finalized between the two countries in October. "It appears there was an impression that the agreements reached between Korea and the United States were not being properly implemented due to the legislative process in the National Assembly," Yeo said. "I plan to explain various aspects, including the political situation in the National Assembly and differences with the United States." In Washington, Ye

Jan 29, 2026By Yonhap
Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo vows to resolve tariff issues through talks with US
Others

Rising gold prices fuel surge in jewelry store robberies across Korea

Thefts at jewelry stores are on the rise amid gold’s record-breaking rally, market watchers said Thursday. International gold prices recently surpassed $5,300 (7.5 million won) per ounce for the first time, driven by weakening confidence in U.S. dollar assets amid geopolitical tensions and recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump advocating a weaker dollar. Police reports of attempted gold thefts have risen sharply. The suspects tried to quickly convert the stolen items into cash, police added. In Gwangju, police detained a teenager, Thursday, after he posed as a customer and stole a gold bracelet worth 30 million won from a jewelry store. Last Friday, police in Daejeon booked a teenage boy for allegedly stealing gold bracelets worth about 8 million won from a jewelry store. Authorities are deciding whether to seek an arrest warrant. This followed another case in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Jan. 21, involving a middle school student who was detained for attempting to sell jewelry using a forged ID card. Apart from teenagers, adults have also been involved. Last Friday, a man in his 30

Jan 29, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Rising gold prices fuel surge in jewelry store robberies across Korea
Others

Retail investors welcome gov’t plan for single-item leveraged ETFs amid semiconductor boom

Kim Moo-jin, an office worker in his 30s, said he was glad to hear news reports about the government plan to introduce leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking Korea’s leading listed companies, including major semiconductor manufacturers. “This will change how I invest,” he said. “Shares of SK hynix and Samsung Electronics are flying. Artificial Intelligence demand will continue to explode, and now I can make money more safely.” He added that many of his friends had turned to margin loans, only to face margin calls from brokerages and ultimately see their assets forcibly liquidated. “Many of my friends have taken out loans against their stocks from the brokerages. I have seen some of them making money fast. But I have also seen others losing all of their holdings just as fast," Kim said. A margin loan refers to borrowing money from a brokerage using existing shares as collateral. A margin call occurs when a brokerage demands additional funds or securities after share prices fall. If investors fail to meet those calls, brokerages can liquidate the shares in the account,

Jan 29, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Retail investors welcome gov’t plan for single-item leveraged ETFs amid semiconductor boom
Economy

Korea sets annual seafood export target at $4.2 bil. for 2030

Korea aims to annually export $4.2 billion worth of seafood products by 2030, the oceans ministry said Thursday, amid the rising global popularity of Korean cuisine. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced the export target as part of the basic plan for the development of the fisheries industry. To promote exports, the ministry said it will actively target emerging markets, including Latin America and the Middle East, in connection with the growing popularity of Korean foods in such regions. For gim, or dried seaweed, a key export item for Korea, the ministry plans to introduce a quality grading system and establish an international trading platform. Korea's exports of seafood products hit an all-time high of $3.33 billion last year, driven partly by rising overseas demand for dried seaweed goods. The 2025 figure marked a 9.7 percent increase from $3.03 billion in 2024. Domestically, Korea aims to annually produce 4 million tons of seafood by 2030, the ministry said.

Jan 29, 2026By Yonhap
Korea sets annual seafood export target at $4.2 bil. for 2030
Others

Mirae Asset becomes Korea's 1st financial firm to issue digital bonds

Mirae Asset Securities has become the first financial company in Korea to issue digital bonds as it seeks to address the blurring boundaries of finance extending into the virtual domain, the company said Thursday. The bonds are worth 100 billion won ($70.1 million), raised through a simultaneous issuance of $30 million and 325 million Hong Kong dollars ($41.65 million). Mirae Asset Securities described the transaction as “more than a simple fundraising exercise,” adding that it is a step toward “Mirae Asset 3.0” strategy aimed at building an advanced digital financial ecosystem encompassing both traditional and digital assets. The strategy centers on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and Web3 technologies, which are associated with a decentralized, user-centric internet built on blockchain, enabling ownership of data and assets without intermediaries. “The successful issuance represents a new model of borderless capital mobilization made possible with digital technology,” the company said. It said the event marks an important milestone, showing that Korea’s financial

Jan 29, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Mirae Asset becomes Korea's 1st financial firm to issue digital bonds
Economy

Population mobility hits 51-yr low in 2025 on housing slump

The number of Koreans moving to new residences within the country fell to a 51-year low in 2025, weighed down by sluggish housing transactions and demographic changes, government data showed Thursday. About 6.12 million people changed residences last year, down 2.6 percent from the previous year, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Data. The figure marked the lowest level since 1974, when 5.29 million people relocated. The ministry said population mobility has been declining over the long term due to low birth rates and rapid population aging, which have reduced the number of younger people who tend to move more frequently. In the short term, mobility is also closely tied to housing market conditions, as the number of newly built apartment units declined in 2025 compared with a year earlier. The population mobility rate — the percentage of people relocating per 100 individuals — reached 12 percent last year, down 0.3 percentage point from the previous year. Seoul recorded a net outflow of about 27,000 people, while the southeastern city of Gwangju posted a net outflow of rough

Jan 29, 2026By Yonhap
Population mobility hits 51-yr low in 2025 on housing slump
Economy

Korean won rises to 3-month high amid broad weakness of US dollar

The Korean currency rose sharply against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday, tracking the broader global weakness of the greenback. The won was quoted at 1,422.5 per dollar as of 3:30 p.m., up 23.7 won from the previous session. It marked the strongest level since Oct. 20, 2025, when the currency was quoted at 1,419.2 won per dollar. The won's strength came as the dollar index slid to its lowest level since 2022 after U.S. President Donald Trump downplayed concerns over the greenback's weakness. Additional pressure on the dollar stemmed from Trump's push regarding Greenland, concerns over a potential shutdown of the U.S. federal government and issues surrounding the independence of the Federal Reserve. Foreign exchange market volatility has emerged as a key concern among policymakers in Korea. The local currency had hovered around the psychologically important 1,450 won level for several months and slid to a multi-year low below 1,480 won late last month, weighed down by broad dollar strength, geopolitical risks and heavy overseas securities investments by local investors. In response to heighten

Jan 28, 2026By Yonhap
Korean won rises to 3-month high amid broad weakness of US dollar
Others

Korea’s WGBI inclusion shows investor confidence in local capital market: PIMCO

Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO) said Wednesday that Korea’s inclusion in the World Government Bond Index (WGBI) in April reflects investor confidence in the Korean capital market. “When it comes to Korea Treasury Bonds, we find the Korean local market somewhat attractive, similarly to some other markets across the region, across our emerging market portfolios and global portfolios. We have some exposure, so we find it attractive as a sector,” said PIMCO Managing Director and Group Chief Investment Officer (CIO) Dan Ivascyn during a presser at the Conrad Hotel in Seoul. Further advancing the optimism are stable policy rates and relatively stable inflation rates, he added. “We think it's a reasonably attractive market. Of course, we are very committed to Korea. The recent equity market performance has been very, very strong. We also expect some stability in the Korean currency won as well, relative to the weakness that we've seen more recently," he said. The CIO added that investors should implement a more defensive strategy since volatility will heighten in the comin

Jan 28, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea’s WGBI inclusion shows investor confidence in local capital market: PIMCO
Others

Retail investors betting against Kosdaq rally see losses amid continued bull market

Retail investors who had bet on a sharp correction in the country’s Kosdaq market are suffering growing losses as the tech-heavy index broke above 1,000 points for the first time, market watchers said Wednesday. This mirrors a recent retail investor misstep concerning the country's benchmark KOSPI. When the index exceeded the historic 5,000 level last week, some investors increased holdings of leveraged inverse products, expecting a bearish development. The benchmark, however, has since topped 5,100 points. Inverse products are financial instruments designed to move in the opposite direction of a specific index or assets. According to the Korea Exchange (KRX), retail investors net sold 159.8 billion won ($111 million) worth of leveraged Kosdaq exchange-traded funds (ETFs) from Jan. 1 to 22. They instead net bought 15 billion won of inverse ETFs over the same period. Foreign and institutional investors made the opposite move. Over the same period, they net bought leveraged Kosdaq ETFs worth 3.3 billion won and 154.4 billion won, respectively. They sold off inverse products worth 300 mill

Jan 28, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Retail investors betting against Kosdaq rally see losses amid continued bull market
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