my timesThe Korea Times

Economy

PolicyCryptocurrencyOthers
  • 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

    Korea's trade reliance up in 2024: BOK data

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Korea's trade reliance up in 2024: BOK data
  • 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
Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

Read more

Economy

Improved dollar supply fuels won's strongest monthly gain since 2009

The Korean won posted its strongest monthly gain against the U.S. dollar last month since March 2009, fueling optimism that the currency could strengthen below 1,400 won per dollar. This marks a sharp reversal from just weeks earlier when markets were bracing for the currency to weaken toward the 1,600 won-per-dollar level. Analysts said Sunday that the rebound was fueled by an improving dollar supply, as SK hynix converted part of the proceeds from its American depositary receipt (ADR) Nasdaq offering into won, while exporters stepped up dollar sales. In the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won ended onshore trading at 1,424.0 per dollar on Friday, the last trading day of July. The currency strengthened by 125.4 won against the dollar in July, an improvement from its June 30 close of 1,549.4 won, gaining 8.81 percent against the dollar. This marks its strongest monthly performance since March 2009, when the won strengthened by 150.5 won against the dollar during heightened volatility from the global financial crisis. The won weakened to as low as 1,559.2 per dollar on July 1, briefly

Aug 2, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Improved dollar supply fuels won's strongest monthly gain since 2009
Cryptocurrency

Rising stablecoin outflows raise investor protection, FX concerns

Stablecoin outflows from Korea to overseas exchanges topped 500 billion won ($346 million) in June, even as the crypto market underwent a correction, an opposition lawmaker said Sunday. The amount reached a level comparable to Korean investors’ net purchases of overseas stocks. The persistent flow of funds abroad to access high-risk derivatives, real-world assets (RWA) and decentralized finance (DeFi) services unavailable in Korea is raising new concerns over investor protection and foreign-exchange management. According to data provided by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) to Rep. Lee Jong-wook of the main opposition People Power Party, stablecoins worth 2.76 trillion won were transferred from the five domestic crypto exchanges — Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit and Gopax — to overseas exchanges in June. That compared with 2.2 trillion won in stablecoins transferred from overseas exchanges to domestic platforms, resulting in a net outflow of 560.3 billion won. That was equivalent to 77.6 percent of Korean investors’ net purchases of overseas stocks in that month, according

Aug 2, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Rising stablecoin outflows raise investor protection, FX concerns
Economy

7 in 10 stocks fall in July as stock market posts steepest decline since 2008

Prices of seven out of 10 stocks listed on Korea's main and secondary stock markets fell last month as the country's bourses posted their steepest monthly declines since the 2008 global financial crisis, market data showed Sunday. A total of 1,859 stocks had closed lower as of Friday than at the end of June, according to data from the Korea Exchange (KRX). They accounted for some 70 percent of a total of 2,645 companies listed on the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) and the tech-heavy Korea Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (KOSDAQ). By market, 566 stocks, or 62 percent of the KOSPI's 917 listed companies, declined, while 1,293 stocks, or 75 percent of the KOSDAQ's 1,728 listings, also fell. The KOSPI tumbled 22.2 percent in July from a month earlier, while the KOSDAQ dropped 21.4 percent. The monthly declines were the steepest since October 2008, when global markets were battered by the global financial crisis. Among KOSDAQ-listed companies, biotechnology firm Kolon TissueGene was the biggest loser, plunging 86 percent during the month to 13,000 won ($8.99) from 9

Aug 2, 2026By Yonhap
7 in 10 stocks fall in July as stock market posts steepest decline since 2008
Economy

Household loans rise sharply in July on fast-growing mortgage, credit loans

Household loans by major banks rose sharply in July despite tight borrowing regulations, as mortgage and credit loans picked up, financial data showed Sunday. Outstanding household loans at five major lenders — KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, Hana Bank, Woori Bank and NH Nonghyup Bank — stood at 778.8 trillion won ($538.6 billion) as of Thursday, up 3.8 trillion won from the previous month, according to data compiled by the banks. The rise in household loans by banks was mainly attributed to a gain in mortgage loans, which increased 2.3 trillion won to 617.4 trillion won in July from a month earlier, marking the sharpest on-month gain since August last year. Experts said demand for borrowing remained strong amid surging housing prices in Seoul and parts of the greater metropolitan area. At the same time, outstanding credit loans totaled 110 trillion won as of Thursday, up 1.4 trillion won from 108.7 trillion won at the end of June. The July balance marked the largest since March 2023, when it stood at 111.2 trillion won. The increase in credit was driven largely by overdraft, as investo

Aug 2, 2026By Yonhap
Household loans rise sharply in July on fast-growing mortgage, credit loans
Economy

Korea's monthly exports up 62.8% in July on strong chip shipments

Korea's monthly exports moved up nearly 63 percent in July from a year earlier amid solid chip shipments, data showed Saturday. Outbound shipments came to $98.89 billion in July, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. Imports rose 26.5 percent on-year to $68.56 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $30.32 billion.

Aug 1, 2026By Yonhap
Korea's monthly exports up 62.8% in July on strong chip shipments
Economy

'Roller KOSPI': Record market swings leave investors split between euphoria, fear

“This isn’t a stock market driven by corporate fundamentals anymore. It’s basically a coin toss.” This was one investor’s verdict on X (formerly Twitter) after one of the most extraordinary weeks in Korean stock market history. On Friday, the benchmark KOSPI surged 17.91 percent, or 1,001.89 points, to 6,595.45 — its largest one-day gain on record — after three consecutive sessions of losses. The rally was fueled largely by a sharp rebound in Samsung Electronics and SK hynix as stronger-than-expected earnings from U.S. technology giants revived optimism over artificial intelligence (AI) investment. Foreign investors snapped up more than 7 trillion won ($4.9 billion) in shares. Yet rather than restoring confidence, the dramatic rebound underscored just how disorienting the market has become for retail investors, leaving many to feel less like long-term shareholders than reluctant participants in a high-stakes timing game. The phrase “Roller KOSPI” — a portmanteau of “roller coaster” and “KOSPI” — has become a fixture across online investing forums and social m

Jul 31, 2026By Park Han-sol
'Roller KOSPI': Record market swings leave investors split between euphoria, fear
Economy

KOSPI rockets 18% in record-breaking rally

KOSPI surged nearly 18 percent on Friday to reclaim the 6,500 level, posting record gains in both percentage and point terms as chip stocks staged a dramatic rally. The benchmark closed at 6,595.45, up 17.91 percent from the previous session. It jumped immediately after the open, triggering a buy-side sidecar at 9:06 a.m., and extended gains through the session. The only other time KOSPI rose more than 10 percent in a single day was Oct. 30, 2008. Foreign and institutional investors led the buying, snapping up a net 7.22 trillion won ($5.06 billion) and 1.18 trillion won in shares, respectively. Retail investors, meanwhile, net sold 8.25 trillion won. SK hynix surged 29.95 percent to close at 1,718,000 won. Korea's second-largest company by market value touched the 30 percent daily limit during the session. Samsung Electronics also jumped 26.81 percent to 262,500 won, its biggest daily percentage gain on record. The rally erased losses from the previous three sessions. SK hynix had fallen 29.9 percent and Samsung Electronics 19.34 percent over the three trading days through Thursday. Stron

Jul 31, 2026By Lee Yeon-woo
KOSPI rockets 18% in record-breaking rally
Economy

Korea to launch $13.9 bil. sovereign wealth fund for strategic industries

The government will launch a 20 trillion won ($13.9 billion) sovereign wealth fund next year to make long-term investments in strategic domestic industries, including artificial intelligence, chips, robotics, defense and biotechnology, officials said Friday. The fund will be established within the Korea Investment Corp. (KIC). The plan was announced Friday at a meeting of economic affairs ministers chaired by Minister of Finance and Economy Koo Yun-cheol. The government plans to capitalize the fund with about 16 trillion won in shares it holds in state-run financial institutions, including the Korea Development Bank, the Export-Import Bank of Korea and the Industrial Bank of Korea. It will also contribute roughly 4 trillion won in shares received in lieu of inheritance and gift taxes. Additional funding may come from surplus tax revenue generated by the semiconductor industry and from private donations. Unlike existing policy funds, the new vehicle will operate as "ultralong-term patient" capital, with no predetermined maturity or liquidation date. It will make direct equity investments i

Jul 31, 2026By Lee Yeon-woo
Korea to launch $13.9 bil. sovereign wealth fund for strategic industries
Economy

Banks struggle with coin-filled vaults in cashless Korea

As Korea becomes increasingly cashless, banks are grappling with a problem — too many coins piling up in their vaults. The loose change, now rarely used, has become a growing logistical burden as lenders must store and eventually return it to the Bank of Korea (BOK). Industry officials say that handling coins is more burdensome than banknotes because they are heavier and more challenging to process. To cope with the growing volume of coin deposits, many bank branches accept coins only during designated hours. Customers feed the change into coin-counting machines, which sort and package the coins before exchanging them for banknotes or depositing the equivalent amount into their accounts. The packaged coins are then stored in branch vaults until they are transported to the BOK. "Banknotes move in and out, but coins are the real problem. Once they come in, they rarely leave. They take much longer to sort and count and are much heavier," said an official at a commercial bank branch in Gyeonggi Province. Branches in Seoul send collected cash to the BOK headquarters, while branches elsewhere

Jul 31, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Banks struggle with coin-filled vaults in cashless Korea
Economy

Tax revenue up $3.85 bil. in June on higher incomes, property market

Korea's tax revenue rose by 5.5 trillion won ($3.85 billion) in June from a year earlier on higher incomes and an increase in the number of homes traded, data showed Friday. The government collected 23.1 trillion won in taxes last month, up 31.1 percent from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Finance and Economy. The finance ministry attributed the increase to higher income tax collections, which totaled 8.9 trillion won in June, up 1.4 trillion won from a year earlier, reflecting wage hikes and an increase in the number of homes traded. The total number of homes traded in the country came to 69,800 in April, up 6.6 percent from 65,400 a year earlier. Korea also collected 2.7 trillion won in corporate taxes, up 400 billion won from a year earlier. Revenue from the securities transaction tax rose 1.2 trillion won from a year earlier to 1.4 trillion won. For the January-June period, tax revenue came to 223 trillion won, up 17.4 percent, or 33 trillion won, from a year earlier.

Jul 31, 2026By Yonhap
Tax revenue up $3.85 bil. in June on higher incomes, property market
previous page
2627282930
next page

Most Read in Economy