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  • Economy

    Fed's hawkish hold strengthens case for BOK's hike in November

    The U.S. Federal Reserve's hawkish decision to hold interest rates steady has strengthened the case for the Bank of Korea (BOK) to raise its benchmark rate as early as next month, as stronger-than-expected growth and persistent inflation reinforce the need for further monetary tightening, analysts said Thursday. The Fed kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.75 to 4 percent on Wednesday (local time), but signaled that inflation remains elevated and reaffirmed its commitment to bringing inflation back to its 2 percent target. The decision has kept markets focused on the possibility of another Fed rate hike in December, raising the prospect that the BOK could pursue further tightening before its U.S. counterpart makes its next move. The BOK held its benchmark rate at 3 percent at its rate-setting meeting last Thursday, saying it needed more time to assess domestic and external economic conditions and the effects of two previous rate hikes. Recent economic data have strengthened the case for further tightening. Korea's real gross domestic product grew 1 percent in the third quarter

    2 MIN READBy Lee Hyo-jin
    Fed's hawkish hold strengthens case for BOK's hike in November
  • Economy

    Banks' household mortgage lending rates up for 5th month in Sept.

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Banks' household mortgage lending rates up for 5th month in Sept.
  • Economy

    Korea to closely monitor impact of upcoming US midterm elections

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Korea to closely monitor impact of upcoming US midterm elections
  • Policy

    Gov't to designate new housing zones for over 76,000 homes near Seoul

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Gov't to designate new housing zones for over 76,000 homes near Seoul
  • Economy

    Seoul stocks down 3% late Thursday morning after weaker-than-expected Samsung earnings

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Seoul stocks down 3% late Thursday morning after weaker-than-expected Samsung earnings
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Others

Moody's keeps 'Aa2' rating on S. Korea

Global credit appraiser Moody's Investors Service said Thursday it has retained its credit rating on South Korea at "Aa2," with a stable outlook. Moody's has maintained the country's sovereign credit rating at "Aa2," the third-highest level on the company's table, since December 2015, when the agency upgraded it from "Aa3." "The affirmation of the rating is supported by Korea's very high degree of economic diversity and competitiveness and continued institutional management around key challenges," the agency said in its latest report. Moody's projects the Korean economy will grow 1.8 percent in 2026, as semiconductor exports continue to rise amid the global artificial intelligence (AI) upcycle and facility investment strengthens. "The stable outlook reflects balanced risks to Korea's credit profile, including fluctuations in key credit metrics that may arise, particularly given Korea's exposure to global trade," Moody's said. The forecast is slightly more pessimistic but broadly aligns with estimates from other major institutions and the Korean government. The International Monetary Fund p

Feb 12, 2026By Yonhap
Moody's keeps 'Aa2' rating on S. Korea
Economy

KOSPI jumps over 3% to end at fresh high of above 5,500-point milestone

Korean stocks surpassed the landmark 5,500-point mark for the first time in history Thursday, boosted by sharp gains in blue-chip tech shares. The local currency gained ground against the U.S. dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) surged 167.78 points, or 3.13 percent, to close at an all-time high of 5,522.27. This marked the first time the KOSPI breached the 5,500-point threshold. Trade volume was heavy at 739.2 million shares worth 31.8 trillion won ($22 billion), with winners outnumbering losers 616 to 272. Foreigners and institutions scooped up a net 3 trillion won and 1.37 trillion won, respectively, while retail investors sold a combined 4.45 trillion won for profit-taking. "The KOSPI's feat came despite the mixed performance of global stock markets amid uncertainties deriving from the planned replacement of the Federal Reserve chief and the release of the U.S. jobs report," Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities, said. "The KOSPI digested the uncertainties to move upwards based on the fundamentals of the market, with big-cap shares gaining ground,

Feb 12, 2026By Yonhap
KOSPI jumps over 3% to end at fresh high of above 5,500-point milestone
Economy

Trade commission proposes anti-dumping tariffs on Thai fiberboard

Korea's trade watchdog on Thursday made a final decision to impose anti-dumping tariffs on fiberboard imports from Thailand, citing damage to the local industry. Under the decision, the Korea Trade Commission (KTC) will ask the Ministry of Economy and Finance to impose tariffs of between 15.29 and 22.44 percent on imports of fiberboard of wood and other ligneous materials from the Southeast Asian nation over the next five year, according to its officials. The KTC also decided to extend for another five years the imposition of 43.58 percent anti-dumping tariffs on butyl glycol ether, a type of liquid chemical used as a cleaner ingredient, imported from Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the commission made a preliminary decision to propose up to 19.17 percent in anti-dumping duties on Chinese imports of butyl acrylate products, mainly used to make plastics, paints and coatings.

Feb 12, 2026By Yonhap
Trade commission proposes anti-dumping tariffs on Thai fiberboard
Others

PHOTO KOSPI soars past 5,500 for 1st time

The KOSPI value is displayed on an electronic board in the dealing room of Hana Bank’s headquarters in Seoul, Thursday. The benchmark index closed at 5,522.27, up 167.78 points, or 3.13 percent, from the previous trading session, surpassing the 5,500-point mark for the first time. Yonhap

Feb 12, 2026By Jun Ji-hyephoto
[PHOTO] KOSPI soars past 5,500 for 1st time
Cryptocurrency

Bithumb faces potential class action lawsuit over mistaken bitcoin payout

Some investors affected by Bithumb’s erroneous distribution of 620,000 bitcoins are considering bringing a class action lawsuit against the cryptocurrency exchange, legal sources said Thursday. The affected users include those whose holdings were forcibly liquidated or sold at sharply lower prices during the sudden plunge triggered by the mistaken transfer. Although Bithumb promptly offered a 110 percent compensation package, which covers 100 percent of losses plus an additional 10 percent, some users are reportedly inquiring about claims for emotional distress damages. Law firm Ahnpark & Partners recently outlined legal issues surrounding the incident in a blog post, stating, “We have been receiving inquiries about the feasibility of seeking damages and pursuing a class action lawsuit.” An official at a Seoul-based law firm, who asked not to be named, said, “The number of inquiries is not yet large enough to move forward with an actual class action, but we have received some consultation requests and are monitoring how the situation unfolds while reviewing possible response str

Feb 12, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Bithumb faces potential class action lawsuit over mistaken bitcoin payout
Others

Hahn & Company sells SK Shipping’s Korea wet tanker business to Pan Ocean for $668 mil.

SK Shipping signed an agreement with Pan Ocean to sell its Korea wet tanker business for $668 million, Hahn & Company said, Thursday. The company, Korea’s largest private equity firm, acquired SK Shipping in 2018. SK Shipping will sell 10 very large crude oil carriers (VLCCs) to Pan Ocean under long-term, secured contracts to import crude oil into Korea. The 10 VLCCs being sold are currently deployed under long-term crude transportation contracts with major domestic shippers. Those contracts will also be transferred to Pan Ocean as part of the transaction. SK Shipping said it plans to use the proceeds from the deal to secure new growth drivers and strengthen its future business portfolio. Hahn & Company has transformed the shipping firm into one of the most profitable transportation companies globally by focusing on servicing secured, long-term contracts while suspending speculative spot market operations. Since the acquisition, the private equity firm has shifted the company’s business structure away from segments highly sensitive to freight rate volatility to more stable operations.

Feb 12, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Hahn & Company sells SK Shipping’s Korea wet tanker business to Pan Ocean for $668 mil.
Economy

Bond yields rise sharply in January amid waning rate cut hopes

Yield rates on Korean state bonds rose sharply in January from the previous month, as anticipation for a rate cut both in the United States and Korea waned, market data showed Thursday. The yield on three-year Treasurys came to 3.138 percent as of the end of January, up 18.5 basis points from a month earlier, according to the data from the Korea Financial Investment Association (KOFIA). The return on the benchmark 10-year government bonds shot up 22.2 basis points to 3.607 percent over the cited period. The rate freeze decision from the Bank of Korea last month triggered bond yields to rise, with the pace of increase accelerating amid the Korean won's weakness and a rise in Japanese bond yields, KOFIA explained. "Bond yields also rose on waning anticipation for a rate cut in the United States, after the Federal Reserve kept the U.S. base rate steady and the release of strong U.S. economic data," the association added. Bond sales totaled 74.7 trillion won ($51.9 billion) as of end-January, up 20.4 trillion won from the previous month. Foreigners held 342.3 trillion won worth of Korean bond

Feb 12, 2026By Yonhap
Bond yields rise sharply in January amid waning rate cut hopes
Others

Hana Financial Group declares consumer protection charter

Hana Financial Group unveiled a group-wide consumer protection charter, in a move to elevate consumer protection as the top priority to strengthen corporate governance, the group said Thursday. The charter seeks to integrate consumer protection into the group’s decision-making, risk management and corporate culture across all affiliates, as well as expanded board oversight. The strategy will in turn strengthen accountability and establish consumer trust as a defining driver of its long-term competitiveness, Hana said. The charter was announced at a ceremony attended by Chairman Ham Young-joo, the heads of its affiliates, chief consumer officers and employees. “Consumer protection is our top priority and our core competitive strength,” Ham said. “As trust is the essence of finance, this charter must not remain a declaration. All employees must unite and ensure it is put into practice. We will move beyond compliance-driven mandates and foster a company-wide mindset that places consumer rights and interests at the center of all operations.” The charter outlines five core commitment

Feb 12, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Hana Financial Group declares consumer protection charter
Economy

Foreign investors shift to net selling of Korean stocks in January: BOK

Foreign investors turned into net sellers of Korean equities in January, driven by profit-taking following recent gains in the benchmark index, central bank data showed Thursday. Offshore investors sold a net $50 million worth of local stocks last month, reversing from their net purchase of $1.19 billion in December, according to the data from the Bank of Korea (BOK). Foreign investors, meanwhile, bought $2.44 billion worth of bonds in January, resulting in a combined net inflow of $2.39 billion in local securities, marking the fifth consecutive month of net foreign inflows into domestic securities. "Equity funds posted a net outflow as profit-taking following recent gains in domestic stock prices outweighed expectations of better performances of the semiconductor industry," a BOK official said. "Bond funds saw slower net inflows as investor sentiment weakened amid rising market interest rates." The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) jumped more than 22 percent in January. The central bank also said daily volatility in the won-dollar exchange rate rose to an average of 6.

Feb 12, 2026By Yonhap
Foreign investors shift to net selling of Korean stocks in January: BOK
Economy

Korea to tighten de-listing rules, remove penny stocks starting July

Korea's financial regulator said Thursday it plans to strengthen de-listing rules to speed up the exit of companies that fail to meet necessary requirements. The move comes as part of efforts to improve the smaller KOSDAQ market and accelerate the country's transition to productive finance, and also facilitate innovative ventures and startup businesses, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) said. Starting July 1, companies whose market capitalization is below 20 billion won ($13.8 million) will be exited from the KOSDAQ market. The threshold will be raised to 30 billion won at the start of next year. For companies listed in the main Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), the threshold will be raised to 30 billion won in July and 50 billion won next year. Penny stocks, or companies whose shares are traded at under 1,000 won, will be exited from the market starting July as well. Companies in capital impairment, a state of total liabilities exceeding total assets, at the half-year mark will also face de-listing, the FSC said. Under current rules, firms face de-listing if they are in co

Feb 12, 2026By Yonhap
Korea to tighten de-listing rules, remove penny stocks starting July
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