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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 up 1.5% late Monday morning as chipmakers advance

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Seoul stocks up 1.5% late Monday morning as chipmakers advance
  • 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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Cryptocurrency

Korea's crypto regulation at crossroads as rules tighten, tax delay proposed

Korea’s cryptocurrency regulatory framework is reaching a crossroads, with rules tightening on one front while efforts are underway to delay taxation on investment gains. Financial authorities plan to expand the “travel rule” for crypto transactions to cover all transfers, requiring exchanges to collect and provide transaction information, while also tightening registration and screening requirements for virtual asset service providers. Meanwhile, a bill has been proposed to postpone the planned taxation of crypto investment gains by three years, reigniting debate over when such taxes should take effect. According to the Financial Services Commission, the country’s financial regulator, an amendment approved Tuesday by the Cabinet will extend the travel rule to all crypto transfers, including those below 1 million won ($705). Under current rules, exchanges are required to share transaction information only for transfers worth at least 1 million won. The change removes the threshold to prevent users from splitting transactions into smaller amounts to evade the rule. The revised rule

Aug 13, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Korea's crypto regulation at crossroads as rules tighten, tax delay proposed
Economy

Foreigners remain net sellers of Korean assets for 6th month in July: BOK

Foreign investors remained net sellers of Korean securities for the sixth consecutive month in July, central bank data showed Thursday, amid a broader market readjustment. Offshore investors sold a net $21.65 billion worth of local stocks and bonds last month, following net sales of 30.72 billion in June, according to data from the Bank of Korea (BOK). They have remained net sellers since February. Foreign investors sold a net $20.7 billion worth of stocks and a net $960 million worth of bonds in July. The BOK said the sell-off narrowed from a month earlier as the stock market correction discouraged foreigners from rebalancing their portfolios amid resurgent Middle East tensions and lingering concerns over excessive investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell more than 20 percent in July alone due mainly to heavy losses in tech shares. The BOK said reduced foreign portfolio rebalancing also helped the Korean won strengthen against the U.S. dollar during the cited period amid the greenback's recent weakness globally. The won w

Aug 13, 2026By Yonhap
Foreigners remain net sellers of Korean assets for 6th month in July: BOK
Economy

Auto exports set new record, rising 7% in July

Korea's auto exports rose 7 percent in July from a year earlier to a new record high, driven by strong demand for environment-friendly models, data showed Thursday. The combined value of automobile shipments came to $6.24 billion last month, according to data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, setting a new record for any July. The ministry said exports of eco-friendly automobiles maintained solid growth, surging 25.5 percent from a year earlier to $2.59 billion. Outbound shipments to North America and the European Union climbed 18 percent and 23.5 percent, respectively, to $3.25 billion and $880 million. Domestically, 139,000 vehicles were sold last month, up 0.5 percent from a year earlier. The number of locally produced cars rose 11.3 percent to 352,000, the ministry said. Six out of 10 vehicles sold in the domestic market were all-electric, gasoline hybrid or other eco-friendly models. "By closely communicating with the industry, the government plans to cope with uncertainties in the automobile industry during this critical period of transition toward future mobility s

Aug 13, 2026By Yonhap
Auto exports set new record, rising 7% in July
Policy

Gov't to expand housing finance support for young, 1st-time buyers while keeping debt curbs

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) will expand housing finance support for young people, newlyweds and first-time homebuyers while maintaining its overall household-debt controls, as part of the government's efforts to stabilize the housing market, the regulator said Thursday. FSC Chairman Lee Eog-weon announced a package of measures aimed at ensuring tighter lending rules do not unnecessarily restrict financing for genuine homebuyers or new housing construction. The commission will maintain existing loan-to-value and debt-service ratio rules, while allowing banks to continue providing loans linked to new housing supply and home purchases by young and first-time buyers without being excessively constrained by household lending quotas. A key part of the package is a three-pronged housing finance program for younger borrowers. The FSC plans to introduce a mortgage loan providing longer-term financing for young people preparing to purchase homes, alongside a new guarantee product for "jeonse" deposit refunds. The regulator will also expand the use of borrowers' expected future income w

Aug 13, 2026By Park Han-sol
Gov't to expand housing finance support for young, 1st-time buyers while keeping debt curbs
Economy

Tax agency launches probe into KB Kookmin Bank: sources

Korea's tax agency has launched a special probe into KB Kookmin Bank, a major lender, financial sources said Thursday. According to insiders, the National Tax Service (NTS) has sent around 30 investigators to the bank's headquarters in western Seoul to secure accounting records needed for a tax audit. The sources added the investigators are from Investigation Bureau 4 of the NTS' Seoul Regional Tax Office, which is in charge of probing tax evasion by businesses. The bureau is widely referred to as the "Grim Reaper" by the business community. The probe is expected to run through the end of this year. The reason for the investigation was not immediately known. The bureau also launched special probes against Hana Financial Group and Meritz Securities Co. in May. Market watchers then said the series of special probes apparently came after President Lee Jae Myung pointed out the lack of financial companies' commitment to the public interest. "We cannot confirm information related to tax investigations into individual cases," an official from the tax agency said.

Aug 13, 2026By Yonhap
Tax agency launches probe into KB Kookmin Bank: sources
Economy

BOK holds $250 mil. in US gold ETF, 1st gold investment in 13 yrs

The Bank of Korea (BOK) said Thursday that it holds more than $250 million worth of a gold exchange-traded fund (ETF) traded on the U.S. stock market, marking its first investment in gold in 13 years. In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the BOK said it held 679,765 shares of SPDR Gold Trust, one of the most widely traded gold ETFs in the United States, worth $250.4 million as of the end of the second quarter. Gold ETFs provide investors with exposure to gold by tracking changes in the price of the precious metal, allowing them to benefit from gold price movements without owning the physical asset. The BOK did not elaborate on the exact timing of the ETF purchase, but the holding was not included in its filing at the end of the first quarter. SPDR Gold Trust was trading at around $400, rebounding from the $360 level last month. It is the first time in 13 years that the Korean central bank has invested in gold since purchasing 20 tons in 2013. Gold ETFs are classified as foreign securities and are included in the country's foreign reserves. Separately, the BOK

Aug 13, 2026By Yonhap
BOK holds $250 mil. in US gold ETF, 1st gold investment in 13 yrs
Policy

Gov't to announce details on job creation plan for youths

Korea will come up with detailed measures to create jobs for young people soon in response to recent challenges in the labor market, the finance minister said Thursday. Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol made the remark during a meeting with economy-related ministers in Seoul, noting that employment among young people, as well as in the manufacturing sector, continues to remain sluggish despite overall gains. On the previous day, the data ministry said Korea added 108,000 jobs in July from a year earlier, but the employment rate for those aged 15 to 29 fell 1.6 percentage points to 44.2 percent, declining on-year for the 27th consecutive month. The unemployment rate for the age group rose 1.3 percentage points to 6.8 percent, marking the largest on-year increase in more than five years. "The prolonged Middle East war, the unprecedented heat wave, along with a drought in some regions, are weighing on employment and consumer prices," Koo said. "The government plans to promptly prepare and announce measures to revitalize employment among young people, along with tailored policies for sectors fac

Aug 13, 2026By Yonhap
Gov't to announce details on job creation plan for youths
Economy

Seoul shares extend gains late Thursday morning on chip rally

Korean stocks extended gains Thursday morning, led by a rally in big-cap semiconductor shares. After opening 2.96 percent higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 275.96 points, or 4.19 percent, to 6,855 as of 11:20 a.m. Overnight, U.S. stocks tied to the artificial intelligence technology sector rose. The S&P 500 gained 0.26 percent, closing just shy of a record high, while the Nasdaq composite advanced 0.54 percent. In contrast, the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down 0.04 percent. In Seoul, blue-chip shares led the advance. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose a sharp 5.48 percent, while its chipmaking rival SK hynix also jumped 7.55 percent. SK Square, the parent of SK hynix, shot up 8.98 percent, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics, an electronics component affiliate of Samsung Electronics, surged 12.73 percent. The Korean won was trading at 1,415.1 won against the U.S. dollar as of 11:20 a.m., up 3.4 won from the end of stock trading the previous day.

Aug 13, 2026By Yonhap
Seoul shares extend gains late Thursday morning on chip rally
Policy

Korea vows to ease regulations to support 3 megaprojects

Korea vowed to ease a set of regulations, including administrative procedures, to support the country's three megaprojects centered on semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI) facilities, the finance ministry said Thursday. Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol unveiled the plan during a meeting with economy-related ministers, with the government expecting the measures to generate a total of 4.2 trillion won ($2.96 billion) in investment. "The government came up with the measures to promptly address investment-related challenges on the ground, focusing on projects that are ready to proceed but have been held up by regulatory hurdles," the finance ministry said. The ministry added that such deregulation is needed to smoothly implement the three megaprojects aimed at transforming the country's economy through investments in semiconductors, physical AI and AI data centers. For example, under the current system, companies are required to revise their existing building permits when adding new structures to an ongoing construction project. The government decided to revise relevant regulations t

Aug 13, 2026By Yonhap
Korea vows to ease regulations to support 3 megaprojects
Economy

KOSPI climbs 3.7% on chip rally, foreign buying

The benchmark KOSPI surged 3.68 percent Wednesday, as foreign and institutional investors piled into large-cap semiconductor stocks on upbeat earnings from major U.S. tech companies and growing expectations for shareholder returns. The benchmark KOSPI closed at 6,579.04, up 3.68 percent from the previous session. The index opened 1.42 percent higher and extended its gains, triggering a buy-side sidecar at 11:57 a.m., the 23rd such activation this year. Foreign and institutional investors bought a net 2.83 trillion won ($1.9 billion) and 528.4 billion won worth of shares, respectively. Retail investors, however, sold a net 3.19 trillion won worth of shares, taking profits. Investor sentiment toward large-cap semiconductor stocks improved following strong earnings reports from major U.S. tech companies, along with expectations for shareholder return plans. SK hynix rose 5.54 percent to close at 1,504,000 won, while Samsung Electronics gained 6.68 percent to finish at 255,500 won. CoreWeave reported second-quarter revenue of $2.58 billion, up 112 percent year on year, while raising its full

Aug 12, 2026By Lee Yeon-woo
KOSPI climbs 3.7% on chip rally, foreign buying
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