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  • Cryptocurrency

    Korea Investors Service prepares to rate credit in digital finance

    Korea Investors Service (KIS) is developing new criteria to assess the credit risks of digital financial products as tokenized securities and stablecoins become more integrated into the mainstream financial system. The Moody's affiliate said Monday that digital financial products can carry risks that differ from those of conventional products, even when they have the same credit rating. "While automation and instant settlement can reduce costs, reliance on the platforms, smart contracts and on-chain settlement that enable them can also create new channels through which disruptions and losses spread," Chung Hyuk-jin, head of KIS' credit standards group, said at a media briefing. Chung said credit assessments of digital financial products should incorporate technological risks alongside traditional measures such as an issuer's repayment capacity, the credit quality of underlying assets, collateral and repayment priority. KIS groups those risks into four categories: platform risk, smart-contract risk, external risk and risks related to the representation of legal rights. Stablecoins have bec

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

    BOK launches pilot program for 24-hour offshore won settlement

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    BOK launches pilot program for 24-hour offshore won settlement
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Economy

Toss Insight warns of mixed risks, deposit slowdown for banks

Toss Insight, the financial management research institute under Viva Republica, released a comprehensive industry outlook report Friday highlighting the mixed structural vulnerabilities facing Korean commercial and digital banks amid growing macroeconomic uncertainties. The report, titled "The Era of Uncertainty: Banking Industry Outlook and Response Strategies," establishes three distinct economic paths — baseline, optimistic and pessimistic — spanning the second half of 2026 through 2027 to gauge bank profitability, asset quality and growth indicators. Rather than offering flat projections, the institute used probability distributions to map out potential "tail risks" — extreme scenarios where financial metrics could deteriorate significantly. The analysis underscores a double-edged sword across all projected paths. While high-interest rates and economic expansion boost net interest margins and loan growth, they simultaneously increase debtor repayment burdens, driving up loan delinquency and nonperforming asset rates. Conversely, a low-rate, cooling economy eases borrower distre

Jul 10, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Toss Insight warns of mixed risks, deposit slowdown for banks
Economy

KRX activates buy-side sidecar for KOSPI on sharp rise

Korea's bourse operator on Friday activated a buy-side sidecar for the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) as the stock index sharply rose, led by a semiconductor rally. Program trading for the KOSPI-listed shares was suspended for five minutes at 12:54 p.m., according to the Korea Exchange (KRX). After opening 3.57 percent higher, the KOSPI rose 408.4 points, or 5.6 percent, to 7,700.32 as of 1:10 p.m. The stock rise came as U.S. stocks closed higher in overnight trading, buoyed by a strong rebound in semiconductor shares and easing oil prices. A buy-side sidecar is triggered when the KOSPI 200 Futures index rises 5 percent or more for at least one minute.

Jul 10, 2026By Yonhap
KRX activates buy-side sidecar for KOSPI on sharp rise
Policy

Gov't to impose anti-dumping tariffs on PVC paste resin from 4 European nations

Korea's finance ministry said Friday it has decided to impose anti-dumping tariffs on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) paste resin products from four European nations starting next month on grounds they were imported below fair prices. Under the decision, Korea will impose anti-dumping tariffs of 25.79 percent to 31.55 percent from next month to August 2031 on the products imported from Germany, France, Norway and Sweden, according to the Ministry of Finance and Economy. PVC paste resin refers to fine-particle resin widely used in interior building materials and other industrial goods, such as wallpapers and gloves. The decision came after Korean chemical firm Hanwha Solutions filed a complaint against a number of European exporters in July last year. The country's trade commission launched an investigation the following month and recommended the finance ministry impose anti-dumping duties in June of this year. "The government plans to continue monitoring products imported at low prices that cause disruptions in the domestic market, protect our industries from dumping activities and establish a f

Jul 10, 2026By Yonhap
Gov't to impose anti-dumping tariffs on PVC paste resin from 4 European nations
Economy

Seoul shares up late Friday morning on chip rally

Korean stocks traded sharply higher Friday morning, driven by a semiconductor rally. After opening 3.57 percent higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) extended gains, adding 250.6 points, or 3.48 percent, to 7,545.51 as of 11:20 a.m. The rise comes as U.S. stocks closed higher in overnight trading, buoyed by a strong rebound in semiconductor shares and easing oil prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.27 percent, while the S&P 500 rose 0.81 percent. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.3 percent. In Seoul, blue chip shares led the early run. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics advanced 3.78 percent, while its chipmaking rival SK hynix also edged up 0.91 percent. Samsung Electro-Mechanics, an electronic components manufacturing affiliate of Samsung Electronics, added 6.43 percent. The Korean won was trading at 1,504.5 won against the U.S. dollar at 11:20 a.m., up 5 won from the previous session.

Jul 10, 2026By Yonhap
Seoul shares up late Friday morning on chip rally
Economy

Korean won weakens on renewed tensions in Middle East

The Korean won weakened against the U.S. dollar Thursday, as oil prices climbed over renewed tensions in the Middle East after Iran and the United States launched fresh attacks. The won was quoted at 1,506.1 won per dollar at 3:30 p.m., down 7.6 won from the previous session. The Korean currency opened at 1,507.5 won per dollar, down 9 won from the previous session, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump said a temporary ceasefire with Iran was over. However, the won's weakness appeared to be offset as foreign investors remained net buyers of local stocks for the second straight trading session. Foreign investors bought a net 190 billion won ($125 million) worth of local stocks on Wednesday, ending their selling spree of 13 consecutive sessions. Investors also awaited the much-anticipated debut of SK hynix Inc. on the U.S. stock market later this week. SK hynix plans to raise up to 43 trillion won via stock offering for the listing of its American depositary receipts on the Nasdaq.

Jul 9, 2026By Yonhap
Korean won weakens on renewed tensions in Middle East
Economy

KOSPI ends slightly higher amid Middle East worries

The benchmark KOSPI ended at the 7,200 level after a choppy session Thursday, opening higher on bargain-hunting in semiconductor shares before paring gains amid continued uncertainty in the Middle East. According to the Korea Exchange, the KOSPI closed at 7,291.91, up 0.62 percent from the previous session. The index opened 3.31 percent higher at 7,486.64 and extended gains, briefly rising above the 7,500 mark. It later gave up those gains, falling as low as 7,063.76. After fluctuating for much of the session, the index ended slightly higher. Foreign and institutional investors bought a net 1.29 trillion won ($854.7 million) and 13.75 billion won worth of KOSPI shares, respectively, while retail investors sold a net 1.33 trillion won, limiting the index's gains. Investor sentiment toward Korean semiconductor stocks improved after U.S. chip shares closed higher on bargain-hunting, helping local names open stronger. However, continued debate over whether the memory cycle had peaked, along with growing profit-taking pressure, led retail investors to sell heavily, erasing much of the market

Jul 9, 2026By Lee Yeon-woo
KOSPI ends slightly higher amid Middle East worries
Policy

BOK chief says rate hike needed at appropriate time

Bank of Korea (BOK) Gov. Shin Hyun-song on Thursday reiterated the need to raise interest rates at an appropriate time, reinforcing expectations that the central bank could begin a rate-hiking cycle as early as next week's policy meeting. "Given that inflation remains above target, and considering improving economic growth and mounting financial stability risks, I believe it will be necessary to raise the base rate at an appropriate time," Shin said during a National Assembly meeting. He added that robust growth fueled by the semiconductor sector is expected to continue, while inflation is likely to remain above the BOK's target for a considerable period. "The timing of a rate hike will be determined after comprehensively assessing inflationary pressures and the pace of economic recovery," Shin said. The remarks were widely interpreted as his latest hawkish signal ahead of the Monetary Policy Board's rate-setting meeting scheduled for next Thursday. The central bank has kept its benchmark rate unchanged at 2.5 percent since May 2025. In recent months, the central bank chief has repeatedly

Jul 9, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
BOK chief says rate hike needed at appropriate time
Policy

Tighter ETF rules likely as gov't moves to strengthen investor protection

The government and the ruling party are weighing tighter rules for single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs) linked to Samsung Electronics and SK hynix after the products came under fire for exacerbating volatility in the domestic stock market, according to industry officials Thursday. With regulators signaling plans to strengthen investor protection and safeguard market stability, policymakers are expected to consider tightening investor eligibility requirements, lowering leverage limits, restricting approvals for new single-stock leveraged ETFs and strengthening oversight of fund size and rebalancing practices. Heightened market volatility since the high-risk products were introduced is reflected in market data. The KOSPI 200 Volatility Index, or VKOSPI, stood at 70.7 on May 27, when 14 leveraged ETFs and two inverse ETFs tracking the two major chipmakers, which together account for more than half of the KOSPI's market capitalization, began trading simultaneously. It had risen to 93.8 by June 30, exceeding the previous high of 89.3 reached during the 2008 global financial cr

Jul 9, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
Tighter ETF rules likely as gov't moves to strengthen investor protection
Cryptocurrency

Mirae Asset wins antitrust approval for Korbit deal

Mirae Asset Group said Thursday that its planned acquisition of Korbit, a domestic cryptocurrency exchange, has cleared review by the Fair Trade Commission (FTC). "The FTC's approval is significant because it marks the first acquisition of a cryptocurrency exchange by an affiliate of a financial group, highlighting the growing convergence between traditional finance and virtual asset platforms," Korbit said in a statement. Mirae Asset Consulting, an affiliate of the group, said in February it agreed to buy 26.91 million shares in Korbit, equivalent to a 92.06 percent stake, for 133.5 billion won ($88.82 million). Follow-up procedures to complete the acquisition will proceed in stages, though the timeline has yet to be finalized, the exchange said. Digital finance is one of the group's key mid- to long-term growth drivers. In June, it launched its global investment platform Mirae Asset Portfolio Service (MAPS) in Hong Kong, laying the groundwork to integrate traditional and digital assets. Mirae Asset said it aims to combine its global investment expertise in securities and asset manageme

Jul 9, 2026By Lee Yeon-woo
Mirae Asset wins antitrust approval for Korbit deal
Economy

Seoul shares trim earlier gains late Thursday morning on retail selling

Seoul shares trimmed earlier gains late Thursday morning on retail selling, though institutions and foreigners bought bargain-priced chip stocks following the recent massive sell-off. After opening 3.3 percent higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) erased its earlier gains and moved up 150.61 points, or 2.08 percent from the day before, to 7,397.40 as of 11:20 a.m. Despite the gains, investors remain concerned about renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, as well as uncertainty over the next phase of artificial intelligence (AI) demand, analysts said. Overnight, U.S. stocks ended mixed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.09 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite rose 0.2 percent. Institutions and foreigners bought a net 985.8 billion won (US$655 million) and 144.9 billion won worth of stocks, respectively, while individuals sold a net 1.07 trillion won. Tech stocks led the gains. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 1.8 percent, while chip giant SK hynix jumped 6.65 percent after reports that its U.S. listing was more than seven times o

Jul 9, 2026By Yonhap
Seoul shares trim earlier gains late Thursday morning on retail selling
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