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  • Economy

    Which Korean stocks offer highest dividend yields this year?

    High-dividend stocks are drawing renewed attention as Korea enters the year-end payout season with the KOSPI confined to a narrow range, analysts said Sunday. According to financial data provider FnGuide, Korea District Heating Corp. is expected to offer the highest dividend yield this year among listed companies covered by at least three brokerages. The company is projected to pay 6,520 won ($4.69) per share this year, up 363 won from 6,157 won a year earlier, translating into an estimated dividend yield of 8.69 percent. Dividend yield is calculated by dividing the dividend per share by the share price. AJ Networks, a rental service group, ranked next, with an estimated dividend of 343 won per share and a dividend yield of 8.33 percent. Brokerage stocks also featured prominently, buoyed by a strong first-half market rally and a sharp improvement in earnings. NH Investment & Securities is expected to pay a dividend of 2,031 won per share, up 731 won from a year earlier, giving a dividend yield of 7.99 percent. Samsung Securities is forecast to raise its dividend by 2,867 won to 6,867 won p

    2 MIN READBy Lee Yeon-woo
    Which Korean stocks offer highest dividend yields this year?
  • Economy

    Seoul stocks open higher on chip gains

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Seoul stocks open higher on chip gains
  • Economy

    Exports up 78% in first 20 days of Sept. on robust chip shipments

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Exports up 78% in first 20 days of Sept. on robust chip shipments
  • Economy

    Korean bond rates most sensitive to changing US yields in emerging Asian markets

    2 MIN READBy Park Han-sol
    Korean bond rates most sensitive to changing US yields in emerging Asian markets
  • Economy

    Samsung, SK hynix near end of buybacks, leaving KOSPI without clear buyer

    2 MIN READBy Lee Yeon-woo
    Samsung, SK hynix near end of buybacks, leaving KOSPI without clear buyer
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Economy

Korea's growth outlook keeps improving, but people aren't feeling it

Lee Ji-eun, a clothing retailer in her 30s who runs a small shop in northeastern Seoul's Nowon District, says the country's improving growth outlook feels distant from what she sees in her own business, with foot traffic at her store yet to pick up. "It's hard to feel an economic recovery when prices are still so high. I've also been cutting back on cultural activities, leisure and other spending myself, so I can understand why consumers are cutting back," Lee said. For Park, an office worker in the manufacturing sector who lives in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, the economic growth driven by the semiconductor boom has done little to change her own financial situation. "My wages are the same, but when I hear about the big bonuses being paid at semiconductor companies, I feel kind of left behind," Park said. Shin, a small business owner in his 60s in Gyeonggi Province, said, "They say the economic figures are improving, but it's the big companies and exporters that are making the money. For people like us who make a living day to day, it feels like it's happening in another country." Their c

Aug 20, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Korea's growth outlook keeps improving, but people aren't feeling it
Economy

Deposit insurance fee hikes face pushback from financial firms

Financial companies are pushing back against plans to raise deposit insurance fees, warning that a steep increase could put an excessive burden on the industry and ultimately be passed on to customers, industry officials said Thursday. The Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation (KDIC) is currently considering higher deposit insurance rates across financial sectors, which would mark the first increase since 2009. The move follows the government’s decision last September to double the deposit protection limit from 50 million won ($36,000) to 100 million won. The KDIC, which collects fees from financial companies to build a fund used to reimburse depositors when institutions fail, says the industry should shoulder more of the cost as the number of failed financial companies — including dozens of savings banks and MG Non-Life Insurance — has grown over the years. The scale of the proposed increase, however, has become a sticking point. A recent study commissioned by the KDIC estimated that the deposit insurance rate for banks should rise to 0.13 percent of eligible deposit balance from the

Aug 20, 2026By Park Han-sol
Deposit insurance fee hikes face pushback from financial firms
Cryptocurrency

BitGo becomes 1st foreign digital asset entity to secure VASP license

BitGo's Korean unit received regulatory approval to operate as a virtual asset service provider (VASP), becoming the first foreign digital asset company to secure the registration in one of the world's most active crypto markets, the company said Thursday. The Korea Financial Intelligence Unit approved BitGo Korea's registration, allowing the unit to provide digital asset custody and transfer services, focusing on institutional and corporate clients. The move gives BitGo a direct foothold in Korea, where foreign crypto companies have struggled to navigate regulatory requirements. Other overseas operators, including Binance and OKX, have instead sought entry through investments in or acquisitions of local operators that already hold VASP registrations. "We chose to establish BitGo Korea locally and complete the VASP registration process directly because we believe serving Korean institutions requires a long-term commitment to the market and its regulatory framework," Chen Fang, CEO of BitGo Korea and chief revenue officer of BitGo, said in a statement. BitGo established its Korean venture

Aug 20, 2026By Lee Yeon-woo
BitGo becomes 1st foreign digital asset entity to secure VASP license
Economy

KRX activates buy-side sidecar for KOSPI on sharp rise

Korea's bourse operator on Thursday activated a buy-side sidecar for the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) as the stock index sharply rose. Program trading for the KOSPI-listed shares was suspended for five minutes at 9:58 a.m., according to the Korea Exchange (KRX). After opening over 3 percent higher, the KOSPI gained 325.34 points, or 5.03 percent, to 6,790.39 as of 9:59 a.m. The index rebounded after plunging nearly 6 percent the previous session, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street as U.S. Treasury yields eased following plans for increased government debt buybacks. A buy-side sidecar is triggered when the KOSPI 200 Futures Index rises 5 percent or more for at least one minute.

Aug 20, 2026By Yonhap
KRX activates buy-side sidecar for KOSPI on sharp rise
Economy

Seoul shares up over 6% late Thursday morning on chip rally

Seoul shares traded more than 6 percent higher late Thursday morning as investors snapped up major chipmakers, including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, amid expectations for stronger shareholder returns from chip giants. After opening 3.23 percent higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) extended its gains, rising 401.44 points, or 6.2 percent, to 6,872.61 as of 11:20 a.m. Program trading for the KOSPI-listed shares was suspended for five minutes at around 10 a.m., as the Korea Exchange (KRX) activated a buy-side sidecar, a measure triggered when the KOSPI 200 Futures Index rises 5 percent or more for at least one minute. Overnight, Wall Street's major indexes closed higher as U.S. Treasury yields retreated after the Treasury Department announced plans to significantly increase buybacks of longer-term government debts. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond, which had climbed to its highest level since 2007, fell Wednesday along with the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield. In Seoul, chipmakers led the gains, rebounding from sharp losses in the previous session. Mark

Aug 20, 2026By Yonhap
Seoul shares up over 6% late Thursday morning on chip rally
Economy

Won-dollar rate falls below 1,400 won for 1st time in 11 months

The Korean won strengthened to below the 1,400-won mark against the U.S. dollar for the first time in nearly 11 months, while the KOSPI plunged 5.8 percent on Wednesday. The won-dollar exchange rate closed at 1,397.7 won per dollar, down 14.1 won from the previous session. It was the first time that the rate fell below 1,400 won since Oct. 2 last year, when it stood at 1,399.5 won. Companies, including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, are believed to have sold large amounts of dollars ahead of this month's interim corporate tax payments. Recent U.S. consumer and producer price data also came in below expectations, strengthening views that the Federal Reserve will refrain from raising rates next month. In contrast, the stock market was hit by a sharp sell-off amid growing concerns over rising global bond yields. The benchmark KOSPI closed at 6,471.17, down 5.8 percent. The index opened 4.96 percent lower and extended its losses, triggering a sell-side sidecar at 9:06 a.m. It was the 48th sidecar activation on KOSPI this year. Foreign and institutional investors sold a net 3.49 trillion wo

Aug 19, 2026By Lee Yeon-woo
Won-dollar rate falls below 1,400 won for 1st time in 11 months
Others

Korea eyes energy for 1st project under $350 bil. US investment plan: finance minister

The energy sector is being considered for Korea's first project under its $350 billion investment commitment to the United States, Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said Wednesday. Speaking at a luncheon hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM), Koo said the launch of the Korea-U.S. Strategic Investment Corp. (KUIC) in June provided the institutional framework needed to put the investment plan into action. He called for companies from the two countries to work together to identify commercially viable projects that would benefit both sides. “Energy appears to be one of the areas attracting significant interest,” Koo said, noting that securing sufficient and affordable energy would be critical as power demand grows with the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI). “Combining Korea’s engineering expertise with U.S. knowhow could create mutually beneficial opportunities,” Koo added. Regarding complaints from the U.S. Department of Commerce over the delayed selection of the first investment project, Koo stressed that “there is absolutely no intention to delibera

Aug 19, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Korea eyes energy for 1st project under $350 bil. US investment plan: finance minister
Economy

KDI raises Korea's 2026 growth outlook to 3.2% amid AI boom

Korea's economy is expected to grow 3.2 percent in 2026, a state-run think tank said Wednesday, revising up its previous forecast of 2.5 percent amid stronger-than-expected global demand driven by the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. The Korea Development Institute (KDI) said the revision came as global demand for semiconductor products remained stronger than expected, leading to increased exports and facility investment, which are expected to eventually boost private consumption in 2027. Accordingly, the KDI also projected economic growth of 2.2 percent for 2027, up 0.5 percentage point from its previous outlook. The think tank added that Korean export volumes are expected to grow 8.7 percent and 5 percent in 2026 and 2027, respectively, despite U.S. tariff measures and geopolitical uncertainties in the Middle East, as AI-related investment around the globe is expected to offset such hurdles. The KDI, meanwhile, assessed that Korea is currently enjoying a surge in exports and facility investment amid the AI boom. "Exports of computers, electronics and optical instruments continue to gr

Aug 19, 2026By Yonhap
KDI raises Korea's 2026 growth outlook to 3.2% amid AI boom
Economy

Young Koreans' 1st-home buying hits 5-year high as Seoul rents soar

First-time home purchases by people in their 20s and 30s hit a nearly five-year high in Seoul in July, as rising “jeonse” rental costs and relatively accessible mortgage financing encouraged more young renters to enter the housing market, government data showed Wednesday. According to the Supreme Court’s real estate registration data, 7,547 first-home purchases were recorded in the capital city last month, the highest monthly figure since November 2021. Buyers in their 20s accounted for 887 transactions, or 11.8 percent of the total, while those in their 30s accounted for 4,300, or 57 percent. The surge comes as jeonse costs continue to rise. Under the uniquely Korean rental system, tenants pay a large lump-sum deposit instead of monthly rent. The apartment jeonse price index in Seoul rose to 104.39 in June from 100 at the start of the year, according to the Korea Real Estate Board. The rising jeonse deposits can make buying comparatively attractive for young eligible renters, particularly when policy-backed loans lower their upfront financing barrier. Eunpyeong recorded the most pu

Aug 19, 2026By Park Han-sol
Young Koreans' 1st-home buying hits 5-year high as Seoul rents soar
Economy

KRX activates sell-side sidecar for KOSPI on sharp fall

Korea's bourse operator on Wednesday activated a sell-side sidecar for the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) as the stock index fell sharp Program trading for the KOSPI-listed shares was suspended for five minutes at 09:06 a.m., according to the Korea Exchange (KRX). After opening 4.96 percent lower, the KOSPI lost 384.82 points, or 5.6 percent, to 6,485.01 as of 09:07 a.m. Investors sold off semiconductor shares, including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street as stalled U.S.-Iran peace talks pushed up oil prices and bond yields. A sell-side sidecar is triggered when the KOSPI 200 Futures Index falls 5 percent or more for at least one minute.

Aug 19, 2026By Yonhap
KRX activates sell-side sidecar for KOSPI on sharp fall
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