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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?
  • Others

    Middle-aged Koreans largely look to national pension for post-retirement safety net

    3 MIN READBy Jun Ji-hye
    Middle-aged Koreans largely look to national pension for post-retirement safety net
  • Policy

    Gov't plans 1.19 mil. public sale, rental homes amid housing price pressures

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Gov't plans 1.19 mil. public sale, rental homes amid housing price pressures
  • Economy

    KOSPI regains 7,000 as Samsung Electronics shares surge on record chip exports

    1 MIN READBy Park Han-sol
    KOSPI regains 7,000 as Samsung Electronics shares surge on record chip exports
  • Cryptocurrency

    Korea Investors Service prepares to rate credit in digital finance

    2 MIN READBy Lee Yeon-woo
    Korea Investors Service prepares to rate credit in digital finance
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Economy

Korea's economy grows 0.6% in Q2 on strong chip exports, beating forecasts

Korea’s economy expanded 0.6 percent in the second quarter from the previous quarter, extending its stronger-than-expected recovery on the back of booming semiconductor exports and a rebound in domestic demand despite Middle East-related risks, the Bank of Korea (BOK) said Thursday. The back-to-back surprise expansions in the first and second quarters have raised the prospect of annual growth exceeding 3 percent, which would mark the fastest pace in five years. Preliminary data from the central bank showed that real gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.6 percent in the April-June period. The reading beat both the median market forecast of 0.3 percent and the BOK’s own projection of 0.2 percent for the quarter. Quarterly growth rebounded sharply from a 0.1 percent contraction in the fourth quarter of last year to 1.8 percent in the first quarter, before maintaining a solid pace in the second quarter despite a high base effect. The expansion was supported by a 1.4 percent increase in exports, driven by semiconductors and machinery and equipment, while private consumption rose 0.4 percen

Jul 23, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin and Jun Ji-hye
Korea's economy grows 0.6% in Q2 on strong chip exports, beating forecasts
Economy

Shareholder group files criminal complaints over Samsung, SK hynix bonus deals

A shareholder advocacy group representing individual investors on Wednesday filed criminal complaints against the chief executives of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, claiming profit-linked bonus agreements reached with labor unions were unlawful. The group, whose name translates roughly as the "Republic of Korea Shareholder Activism Headquarters," filed police complaints accusing SK hynix CEO Kwak Noh-jung, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jun Young-hyun and CEO Roh Tae-moon of breaching their fiduciary duties to shareholders. It also filed a complaint against Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, alleging he abused his authority by intervening in Samsung's wage negotiations in May. Speaking at a press conference, Min Kyung-kwon, head of the group, argued that performance bonuses tied to corporate earnings should be treated as profit distributions, and thus should not be subject to collective bargaining. "Any profit-sharing arrangement should require shareholder approval, rather than being negotiated through collective barga

Jul 22, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Shareholder group files criminal complaints over Samsung, SK hynix bonus deals
Economy

KOSPI fails to reclaim 7,000 as 5% intraday surge fades

The KOSPI failed to reclaim the 7,000 mark, Wednesday, paring most of its gains after surging more than 5 percent, as caution ahead of Alphabet's earnings and concerns over rising oil prices weighed on investor sentiment. The benchmark closed at 6,797.70, up 0.74 percent from the previous session. It opened 4.51 percent higher and extended its gains to the 7,000 level. A buy-side sidecar was triggered at 9:06 a.m., marking the 20th such activation on Korea’s main bourse this year. Foreign investors led the buying spree, purchasing 2.62 trillion won ($1.7 billion) worth of shares. Institutional and retail investors net sold 1.38 trillion won and 1.23 trillion won worth of shares, respectively. The secondary Kosdaq extended its decline, falling 0.3 percent to 751.09. Despite the efforts, the index returned to the level seen before President Lee Jae Myung's inauguration. Investor sentiment toward the semiconductor sector improved overnight after Nvidia announced that its Vera Rubin platform had entered mass production and begun shipping. Reports that TSMC had raised its chip foundry price

Jul 22, 2026By Lee Yeon-woo
KOSPI fails to reclaim 7,000 as 5% intraday surge fades
Others

Won tests foothold in 1,400s as dollar risks linger

The Korean won has recovered from its weakest level since the Asian financial crisis, trading below the psychologically important 1,500-won-per-dollar level for the first time in three weeks, analysts said Wednesday. The move was driven by easing foreign investor rebalancing and expectations of increased dollar inflows, they said. Still, they cautioned that further gains in the won may be limited, with geopolitical tensions and the possibility of higher U.S. interest rates likely to keep the dollar supported. The won closed at 1,555.8 per dollar on July 2, its weakest level since March 2009 based on onshore trading, according to the Seoul foreign exchange market. It fell below the 1,500 won mark on July 8, closing at 1,498.5, before briefly rebounding to 1,506.1 won the following day. The currency strengthened again to finish at 1,493 on July 14 and has since remained in the upper-1,400 won range. On Wednesday, it ended onshore trading at 1,480.1. The average won-dollar exchange rate based on onshore closing prices stood at 1,488.6 won in the third week of July, falling below the 1,500 wo

Jul 22, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Won tests foothold in 1,400s as dollar risks linger
Economy

Can MBK's last-minute Homeplus rescue mitigate regulatory sanctions?

As the financial regulator weighs sanctions against MBK Partners over its handling of the Homeplus acquisition, attention is turning to whether the private equity firm’s last-minute effort to keep the retailer afloat could influence the severity of the penalty. The Financial Services Commission (FSC) has recently begun reviewing disciplinary measures proposed by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) on July 2. The FSS recommended a three-month suspension on MBK’s management of the Homeplus buyout fund, along with an institutional warning against MBK in its capacity as the general partner managing the private equity fund. If upheld, the warning would mark the first major regulatory sanction imposed on a domestic private equity fund manager. An institutional warning could affect MBK’s ability to raise capital from major limited partners, including the National Pension Service (NPS). At the center of the case is the firm’s treatment of redeemable convertible preferred shares (RCPS) — a type of preferred stock that can be redeemed by investors under certain conditions — issued

Jul 22, 2026By Park Han-sol
Can MBK's last-minute Homeplus rescue mitigate regulatory sanctions?
Economy

Foreign holdings of domestic stocks push up Korea's financial liabilities

A surge in Korean stocks boosted the value of local equities held by foreign investors, swelling the nation's financial liabilities and pushing net financial assets lower for the first time in five years, data showed Wednesday. Net financial assets fell 20.4 percent to 1,271 trillion won ($858 billion) in 2025, a decline of 326 trillion won from a year earlier, according to the national balance sheet released by the Bank of Korea (BOK) and the Ministry of Data and Statistics. It was the biggest drop since the data series began in 2009. Net financial assets are calculated by subtracting financial liabilities, which include Korean equities held by foreign investors, from financial assets, which include overseas assets held by Korean residents. While financial assets rose by 2.79 quadrillion won, or 11.4 percent, to 27.318 quadrillion won, financial liabilities climbed by a larger 3.12 quadrillion won, or 13.6 percent, to 26.047 quadrillion won. "The won-denominated increase in the value of Korean equities held by foreign investors exceeded the increase in overseas equities held by Korean r

Jul 22, 2026By Lee Yeon-woo
Foreign holdings of domestic stocks push up Korea's financial liabilities
Economy

Finance minister vows vigilance over energy supply amid renewed tensions

Korea's finance minister on Wednesday called for vigilance over potential energy supply disruptions following renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, vowing to take preemptive measures when necessary. Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol made the remarks during a meeting with economy-related ministers to discuss ways to address external uncertainties and maintain the country's export momentum. "With external uncertainties remaining higher than ever, the government will continue to be highly vigilant and thoroughly review and address the impact of changes taking place in the Middle East on the economy," Koo said. The finance ministry especially pledged to focus its efforts on maintaining a stable supply of energy resources, noting the country has stable stockpiles of crude oil and naphtha. "With uncertainties expected to remain high down the road, the government will maintain the current measures to ensure stable supplies and take additional preemptive actions when necessary," he added.

Jul 22, 2026By Yonhap
Finance minister vows vigilance over energy supply amid renewed tensions
Economy

KRX activates buy-side sidecar for KOSPI on sharp rise

Korea's bourse operator on Wednesday activated a buy-side sidecar for the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) as the stock index rose sharply, fueled by tech gains. Program trading for the KOSPI-listed shares was suspended for five minutes at 9:06 a.m. soon after the market opened, according to the Korea Exchange (KRX). After opening over 5 percent higher, the KOSPI rose 6.01 percent to 7,153.42 points as of 9:11 a.m. A buy-side sidecar is triggered when the KOSPI 200 Futures index rises 5 percent or more for at least one minute.

Jul 22, 2026By Yonhap
KRX activates buy-side sidecar for KOSPI on sharp rise
Economy

Seoul stocks extend gains late Wed. morning on tech buying

Seoul stocks were trading higher late Wednesday morning, as foreign investors snapped up tech heavyweights. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 373.89 points, or 5.54 percent, to 7,121.84 as of 11:20 a.m. The index extended its gains after rising sharply higher on bargain hunting. Overnight U.S. stocks also gained ground, led by semiconductors while investors closely follow the upcoming earnings releases from major big tech companies. The upcoming results, including their capital expenditure guidance, will provide hints on whether the massive spending on artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure can translate into sustainable revenues. Most market top-caps moved upward. Chip giant Samsung Electronics rose 5.6 percent, while its industry rival SK hynix added 7.84 percent. Top carmaker Hyundai Motor climbed 6.89 percent, defense giant Hanwha Aerospace advanced 2 percent, and major financial firm KB Financial inched up 0.63 percent. The Korean won was quoted at 1,480.5 won against the U.S. dollar, up 1.5 won from the day before.

Jul 22, 2026By Yonhap
Seoul stocks extend gains late Wed. morning on tech buying
Economy

Gov't calls for exporters' proactive role in FX market stabilization

The government has called on exporters to play a proactive role in stabilizing the foreign exchange market, including the converting of export proceeds into the Korean won, the finance ministry said Wednesday. Second Vice Finance Minister Huh Chang met with officials from major exporters, including Samsung Electronics, SK hynix Inc. and Hyundai Motor Group, on the previous day to discuss ways to cooperate in addressing recent volatility in the foreign exchange market. During the meeting, Huh noted that the Korean won, which had weakened to around 1,550 won against the greenback, has since recovered to the upper 1,400-won range, supported by exporters' efforts, including inflows from SK hynix's American depositary receipt (ADR) offering on the Nasdaq market. The supply of U.S. dollars in the second half is expected to improve further on the back of the semiconductor supercycle and the country's strong economic fundamentals, Huh added. "While external uncertainties, such as the lingering Middle East conflict, continue, the government is fully committed to promptly anchoring market expectat

Jul 22, 2026By Yonhap
Gov't calls for exporters' proactive role in FX market stabilization
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