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  • Economy

    Korean won rebounds from 17-year real-value low

    The Korean won has surged to become the best performing major currency against the dollar this month, buoyed by exporter dollar sales and the Bank of Korea's first policy rate increase in three and a half years, the data showed Sunday. The won gained 6.24 percent against the dollar from July 1 through Friday, the biggest advance among 20 major currencies tracked by Yonhap Infomax. The Australian dollar and Russian ruble were the next best performers, each rising 0.9 percent. The rally stands out against a backdrop of broad dollar strength. The U.S. dollar index has remained above 101, as geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran sustained demand for safe-haven assets. The Korean currency strengthened to 1,458.5 won per dollar in trading that ended at 6 a.m. Saturday, with the exchange rate falling 15.7 won from the previous session. The advance marks a sharp turnaround from June, when the exchange rate touched an intraday high of 1,555.2 won per dollar. The won's inflation-adjusted value fell to its lowest level in more than 17 years. Its real effective exchange rate stood

    2 MIN READBy Lee Yeon-woo
    Korean won rebounds from 17-year real-value low
  • Economy

    Seoul shares open higher on eased Mideast tensions, mega chip deals

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Seoul shares open higher on eased Mideast tensions, mega chip deals
  • Others

    Korea's return to US currency watch list unlikely to shake FX market: analysts

    3 MIN READBy Jun Ji-hye
    Korea's return to US currency watch list unlikely to shake FX market: analysts
  • Economy

    KRX activates sell-side sidecar for KOSPI on sharp decline

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    KRX activates sell-side sidecar for KOSPI on sharp decline
  • Economy

    Seoul stocks sharply down late Friday morning on profit-taking

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Seoul stocks sharply down late Friday morning on profit-taking
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Others

KRX provides tailored insider trading prevention training for listed firms

The Korea Exchange’s (KRX) Market Oversight Commission has offered tailored training aimed at strengthening unfair trading prevention among listed companies, the KRX said Tuesday. The program, held May 18 at its Seoul headquarters, drew about 60 executives and employees from about 40 listed firms. It was designed to bolster internal control systems and enhance corporate compliance capabilities against insider trading and other unfair market practices. Focusing on employees with greater access to sensitive corporate information, including those working in disclosure, finance, accounting and investor relations, the training offered role-specific content incorporating frequently discussed issues and notable violation cases. Participants received guidance on unfair trading regulations, representative breach cases and recent regulatory changes, including expanded sanction measures. The session also introduced the K-ITAS insider trading alert service, the exchange’s reporting and reward schemes and procedures for filing unfair trading reports and claiming rewards. “Preventing unfair trad

May 26, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
KRX provides tailored insider trading prevention training for listed firms
Policy

Customs agency to ease rules on US crude routed through third countries

Korea's customs agency said Tuesday it has simplified regulations to allow U.S. crude routed through third countries to remain eligible for benefits under the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), in line with efforts to stabilize the supply amid tensions in the Middle East. The Korea Customs Service said the new rule, effective Tuesday, will ease procedures for importers to receive benefits under the bilateral FTA for U.S. crude imported to Korea after being transshipped through third countries. Previously, if crude oil was imported and additionally shipped through a third country, such as Mexico, it was not immediately eligible for preferential treatment under the FTA. "We decided to proactively ease complicated procedures, under which importers were required to submit documents from transit countries to qualify for FTA benefits," the customs agency said. The customs agency added it is consulting with Malaysian authorities to speed up the process for issuing certificates of origin, which currently takes around six months, in an effort to facilitate crude imports from the Southeast Asia

May 26, 2026By Yonhap
Customs agency to ease rules on US crude routed through third countries
Others

Korea showcases AI water treatment tech to global development banks

Inside a water treatment plant south of Seoul, Korea is making its pitch to become the world’s next hub for artificial intelligence (AI) cooperation. Officials from many international organizations visited the Korea Water Resources Corp.’s AI-powered treatment facility in Hwaseong on Thursday, where Korean officials demonstrated how AI is already managing critical public infrastructure. The visit followed Wednesday’s “Global AI Hub Vision Declaration” ceremony, where the government unveiled plans to position Korea at the center of international AI cooperation aimed at addressing climate change, public health and development challenges. More than 20 senior officials attended the site visit, including vice president-level executives from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), along with representatives from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Central American Bank for Economic Integration and United Nations agencies. At the facility, the Korea Water Resources Corp. demonstrated AI systems that a

May 26, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea showcases AI water treatment tech to global development banks
Economy

Seoul shares trade over 8,000 on optimism for US-Iran deal, Hormuz reopening

Korean stocks traded higher over the 8,000-point level as investors were buoyed by progress on a Washington-Tehran peace deal despite new U.S. strikes on Iran. After starting 2.84 percent higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) extended gains to add 242.87 points, or 3.09 percent, to 8,090.58 as of 11:20 a.m. U.S. President Donald Trump said talks with Iran to extend the ceasefire and unlock the Strait of Hormuz are proceeding "nicely" and also warned of attacks "bigger and stronger than ever before." Later, U.S. forces conducted strikes in southern Iran in what they described as defensive actions. In Seoul, semiconductor, auto and shipbuilding shares led the rally. Chip giant Samsung Electronics rose 2.65 percent, and SK hynix jumped 6.59 percent. Top carmaker Hyundai Motor added 4.12 percent, and its auto parts affiliate Hyundai Mobis climbed 1.55 percent. Leading shipyard HD Hyundai Heavy Industries soared 9.56 percent, and Hanwha Ocean surged 11.21 percent. However, banking giant KB Financial Group retreated 0.38 percent, and leading retailer Lotte Shopping fell 1

May 26, 2026By Yonhap
Seoul shares trade over 8,000 on optimism for US-Iran deal, Hormuz reopening
Economy

Korean ETFs accelerate global push with listings planned in Hong Kong, US

As Korea’s stock market rally continues to draw global attention, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) linked to the country’s benchmark index as well as chip giants Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are set to debut in overseas markets including Hong Kong and the United States, industry officials said Monday. Hong Kong-based CSOP Asset Management plans to list a KOSPI 200 ETF on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in the second half of the year, which would mark the first ETF in the market directly tracking Korea’s benchmark index. The exchange already hosts leveraged ETFs tied separately to Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, which have attracted around 2.4 trillion won ($1.75 billion) and 7.9 trillion won in assets, respectively. “The introduction of a KOSPI 200 ETF could further improve overseas investors’ access to Korean equities,” said Lim Eun-hye, an analyst at Samsung Securities, adding that demand for Korean assets could continue expanding among Hong Kong pension funds and institutional investors. Meanwhile, in the U.S., leveraged ETF provider Leverage Shares has filed with the U.S.

May 26, 2026By Park Han-sol
Korean ETFs accelerate global push with listings planned in Hong Kong, US
Economy

Korea's chip-led rally creates unexpected gains for farms, schools

As Korea’s stock market barrels through record highs on the back of the semiconductor rally, the boom is creating an unlikely windfall that extends far beyond the trading floor, into farms and schools. Behind it are two earmarked taxes that automatically rise in line with trading activity and financial firms’ earnings. But the surge is also exposing a policy dilemma. Critics have argued that these funds were already taking in more money than they could realistically spend. Now, with the market rally expected to generate tens of trillions of won in additional tax revenue, debate is growing over how to handle the overflow — and whether the country’s decades-old tax structure still makes sense, industry officials said Sunday. Unlike broad-based taxes such as income and corporate levies that flow into the government’s general budget, the special rural development tax and education tax are purpose-specific ones designed to fund designated policy areas. The rural development tax, introduced in 1994 after Korea opened its agricultural market to foreign competition, aims to support rur

May 25, 2026By Park Han-sol
Korea's chip-led rally creates unexpected gains for farms, schools
Others

Foreign investors dump $6.6 bil. in Samsung Electronics, SK hynix stocks last week

Foreign investors sold more than 10 trillion won ($6.6 billion) worth of shares in Samsung Electronics and SK hynix last week while extending their net-selling streak in the South Korean stock market to 12 trading sessions, data showed Monday. Foreigners offloaded a net 5.33 trillion won worth of SK hynix shares and 5.26 trillion won worth of Samsung Electronics shares during the week beginning May 18, according to the data from the Korea Exchange and Yonhap Infomax. Combined net sales of the two market bellwethers accounted for 73 percent of foreigners' total net selling of Korean stocks, which came to 14.45 trillion won over the cited period. The selling trend has continued over the past 12 trading sessions since May 7, when foreign investors turned net sellers. During the 12-session period, foreigners sold a net 19.53 trillion won worth of SK hynix shares and 18.87 trillion won worth of Samsung Electronics shares, accounting for 82.9 percent of their total net selling of 46.34 trillion won. Last week, Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Motor, LG Electronics and Samsung Electro-Mechanics were also

May 25, 2026By Yonhap
Foreign investors dump $6.6 bil. in Samsung Electronics, SK hynix stocks last week
Economy

KOSPI's daily turnover tops $26.4 bil. for 1st time amid stock rally

Average daily transactions in Korea's benchmark index surpassed 40 trillion won ($26.4 billion) for the first time this month amid a record-breaking market rally, bourse data showed Monday. The daily turnover of the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) averaged 48.05 trillion won during the first 22 days of May, according to the data from the Korea Exchange (KRX). The figure marked the highest monthly average on record, surpassing the previous high of 32.23 trillion won set in February. The increase came as the KOSPI extended its rally to record highs this month. The index topped the 7,000-point mark for the first time on May 6 and briefly surpassed 8,000 during intraday trading on May 15. After volatile trading, the KOSPI closed at 7,847.71 on Friday, up 19 percent from the end of April. Heavy buying of market bellwethers, including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, drove the surge in turnover. Combined daily trading value for Samsung Electronics and SK hynix averaged 20.57 trillion won over the cited period, accounting for 43 percent of the KOSPI's total daily turnover. "Despite conc

May 25, 2026By Yonhap
KOSPI's daily turnover tops $26.4 bil. for 1st time amid stock rally
Economy

BOK's rate hike clock speeds up amid oil-fueled inflation pressure

The Bank of Korea (BOK) faces mounting pressure for further monetary tightening as a spike in global oil prices triggered by conflict in the Middle East fuels inflation and pushes up the won-dollar exchange rate. Market analysts increasingly expect the central bank to resume rate hikes in the second half of the year. BOK Gov. Shin Hyun-song is set to chair a Monetary Policy Board meeting on Thursday, his first since taking office in April, with markets closely watching for signals on his policy direction. The central bank has kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged for seven consecutive meetings after cutting it to 2.50 percent in May last year. The bank is widely expected to keep rates unchanged at the upcoming meeting, while signaling the possibility of future rate hikes. "In our base case, we expect BOK to deliver an evidently hawkish hold decision at 2.50 percent policy rate at the meeting," said Kim Jin-wook, chief economist at Citibank Korea. Surging oil prices and the won's sharp decline against the dollar are adding to inflation concerns and reinforcing expectations of monetary

May 25, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
BOK's rate hike clock speeds up amid oil-fueled inflation pressure
Economy

Korea to open ETF, ETN trading to foreign investors

The Korean government is moving to allow foreign investors to directly trade exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and exchange-traded notes (ETNs) through omnibus accounts, expanding market access beyond individual stocks as authorities seek to attract more foreign capital into the local market. According to financial authorities, Sunday, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) is seeking revisions to regulations on financial investment business to allow foreign investors to directly invest in locally listed ETFs and plans to issue a prior notice in June. The proposed revision would expand the scope of assets tradable through foreign omnibus accounts — currently limited to stocks — to include ETFs and ETNs. The omnibus account system allows foreign investors to trade Korean equities directly through overseas brokerages, without the need to open separate accounts with local securities firms. The move follows remarks by FSC Chairman Lee Eog-weon during a press conference on Thursday. "There are growing requests from foreign retail investors who want to invest in Korean stocks, but the instituti

May 24, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Korea to open ETF, ETN trading to foreign investors
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