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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

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

    3 MIN READBy Jun Ji-hye
    [COVER STORY] 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

Finance chief vows all-out efforts to fight inflation

The country's top economic policymaker said Thursday that the government will mobilize all available tools, including taxes and fiscal measures, to rein in rising inflation and reduce the burden on ordinary people. In a meeting with high-ranking officials, such as from the agriculture ministry, Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said the government's top priority at present is price stabilization. The minister said energy prices have been rising since the Middle East war, and unusual weather conditions are affecting inflation as well. Last week, President Lee Jae Myung also said inflation is the government's most urgent policy challenge and urged officials to devise extraordinary measures to stabilize prices and ease the burden on households. Consumer prices in Asia's fourth-largest economy rose 3.1 percent in May from a year earlier, marking the fastest growth in 26 months, amid the Middle East conflict.

Jun 25, 2026By Yonhap
Finance chief vows all-out efforts to fight inflation
Economy

Number of stock accounts hits record high on bull run

The number of stock trading accounts in Korea has reached a new high, thanks to a bull run led by major chipmakers despite some market gyrations, data showed Thursday. The number of trading accounts stood at 108.7 million as of Wednesday, up more than 10 million accounts from 98.28 million tallied at the end of last year, according to the data from the Korea Financial Investment Association (KOFIA). The figure has been rising sharply this year as more retail investors purchased local heavyweight stocks, including Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc. Last year, the number of stock trading accounted increased by 11.7 million. This month, the nation's benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) surged past 9,000 points for the first time, on the back of a technology rally driven by artificial intelligence (AI) optimism. However, market volatility has been also growing. The KOSPI 200 volatility index, or VKOSPI, stood at 84.81 on Wednesday, up 6.04 percent from the previous session. The VKOSPI is the official Korean volatility index and serves as a "fear gauge," measuring the mark

Jun 25, 2026By Yonhap
Number of stock accounts hits record high on bull run
Economy

KRX issues buy-side sidecar for KOSPI on sharp rise

Korea's bourse operator on Thursday activated a buy-side sidecar for the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) as the index spiked sharply, driven by a tech rally. Program trading for the KOSPI-listed shares was suspended for five minutes shortly after the market opened, according to the Korea Exchange (KRX). The KOSPI rose 431.95 points, or 5.1 percent, to 8,902.97 as of 9:09 a.m. The KOSPI sharply gained ground as investors scooped up semiconductor shares on U.S. chipmaker Micron Technology's better-than-anticipated quarterly earnings. A buy-side sidecar is triggered when the KOSPI 200 Futures index increases 5 percent or more for at least one minute.

Jun 25, 2026By Yonhap
KRX issues buy-side sidecar for KOSPI on sharp rise
Economy

Seoul shares extend gains late Thursday morning on tech rally

Korean stocks extended their gains late Thursday morning, driven by a semiconductor rally, as Micron Technology's better-than-expected earnings erased concerns over artificial intelligence (AI) growth. After opening 2.74 percent higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) extended gains, adding 414.55 points, or 4.89 percent, to 8,885.57 as of 11:20 a.m. Overnight, Wall Street closed mixed on concerns about overvaluation of artificial intelligence (AI)-related shares. After the market closed, however, Micron, the world's No. 3 memory chipmaker, released its quarterly earnings, sharply beating market expectations. In Seoul, blue chip shares led the early run. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics jumped 4.77 percent, and chip giant SK hynix soared 9.61 percent. Hanmi Semiconductor, a leading chip equipment maker, advanced 2.22 percent, and LG Electronics rose 0.24 percent. Financial shares were also among the winners as KB Financial Group gained 1.91 percent and Samsung Life Insurance climbed 6.47 percent. The Korean won was trading at 1,547.25 won against the U.S. dollar

Jun 25, 2026By Yonhap
Seoul shares extend gains late Thursday morning on tech rally
Economy

Biz sentiment falls in June for 1st time in 3 months: BOK survey

Korea's business sentiment worsened for the first time in three months in June on sluggish construction and travel sectors, a central bank survey showed Thursday. The Composite Business Sentiment Index (CBSI) for all industries stood at 97.7 in June, down 1.2 points from a 3 1/2-year high of 98.9 in May, according to data from the Bank of Korea (BOK). It marked the first on-month decline since March. The index measures corporate outlooks on overall business conditions, with a reading below 100 indicating that pessimists outnumber optimists. The CBSI among manufacturers climbed 0.4 point from a month earlier to 101.2 in June, marking the highest point since August 2022, when the reading stood at 102.9. The manufacturing index surpassed the 100 mark for the second consecutive month after topping the 100 threshold in May for the first time since August 2022. However, the index among nonmanufacturers went down 2.1 points to 95.4 weighed down by low business sentiment among construction and travel-related companies. The outlook for July also dropped 2.4 points to 95.2 from the previous month's p

Jun 25, 2026By Yonhap
Biz sentiment falls in June for 1st time in 3 months: BOK survey
Economy

KOSPI rebounds from sharp sell-off on Samsung buyback hopes

Korea's benchmark stock index jumped more than 3 percent Wednesday, clawing back some of the previous session's 10 percent plunge, as bargain-hunting and hopes for a major Samsung Electronics buyback lifted investor sentiment. According to the Korea Exchange, the KOSPI closed at 8,471.02, up 3.26 percent from the previous session when it plunged nearly 10 percent. It climbed as high as 8,577.52 during the session, but turned lower in the afternoon and briefly fell to 8,080.99. It later resumed its upward trend and closed higher. Despite weakness in U.S. semiconductor stocks, investor sentiment was boosted by news that Samsung Electronics is close to announcing a 90 trillion won ($58.2 billion) share buyback. Its shares rose 9.84 percent to close at 340,500 won, reclaiming the top spot by market capitalization. SK hynix also rose 0.98 percent to close at 2,580,000 won, but failed to close the gap with Samsung Electronics. Market laggards also advanced, supported by bargain-hunting. The pharmaceutical and biotech sector rebounded on expectations surrounding the 2026 BIO International Conve

Jun 24, 2026By Lee Yeon-woo
KOSPI rebounds from sharp sell-off on Samsung buyback hopes
Economy

MSCI keeps Korea off developed market watchlist, but global analysts stay bullish

MSCI's decision to keep Korea off its watchlist for potential inclusion in the Developed Market Index has pushed back expectations for index-driven inflows, but analysts say the setback does little to weaken investors' constructive view of the country's stock market, which remains underpinned by artificial intelligence (AI)-related momentum. Wee Khoon Chong, APAC macro strategist at BNY, noted that the Korean stock market is in a favorable position thanks to AI-related growth momentum, even without inclusion in the Developed Market Index. "Inclusion in the MSCI Developed Market Index would be welcomed, bringing additional passive inflows, but a status quo MSCI decision would not change investors' constructive investment thesis on South Korea," he added. Korea was not added to MSCI's Developed Market Index watchlist in its 2026 market classification review, announced Wednesday. MSCI noted that underlying issues raised by global investors "have not been fully resolved." Korea was first included in the Emerging Markets Index in 1992 and was placed on MSCI's watchlist for potential inclusion

Jun 24, 2026By Lee Yeon-woo
MSCI keeps Korea off developed market watchlist, but global analysts stay bullish
Economy

Retail sales rise 9% in May amid improving consumer sentiment

Sales at major retailers rose 9 percent in May from a year earlier, data showed Wednesday, driven by improving consumer sentiment and stronger revenue at both online and offline platforms. Korea's retail sales increased 9 percent from a year earlier, also supported by major holidays, such as Children's Day and Parents' Day, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. Offline retailers reported a 9.3 percent increase in sales, led mainly by department stores and convenience stores. The industry ministry attributed the strong performance to an increase in foreign tourists, while early summer heat boosted sales of beverages. Revenue at major online retail platforms rose 8.8 percent from a year earlier in May, maintaining solid growth in food, electronics and children's products. Online platforms accounted for 58.6 percent of total retail sales in May.

Jun 24, 2026By Yonhap
Retail sales rise 9% in May amid improving consumer sentiment
Economy

Seoul to continue push for MSCI developed market status bid after remaining in emerging category

South Korea will continue its push for inclusion in the developed-market category under the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) index after the provider decided to keep Asia's No. 4 economy in the emerging-market category, the finance ministry said Wednesday. Overnight, MSCI said South Korea will remain in the emerging-market category despite Seoul's efforts to be placed on the watch list for inclusion in the developed-market category, citing the limited convertibility of the Korean won in offshore currency markets. "MSCI acknowledged the government's efforts to advance the foreign exchange and capital markets, but for some of the remaining tasks, efforts to improve the system are still under way," the Ministry of Finance and Economy said in a statement in response to the announcement. The finance ministry added that South Korea was not included in the developed-market category this year as the market also needed time to fully reflect the impact of the completed reforms. "If we continue to implement reforms in the foreign exchange and capital markets on our own schedule, we belie

Jun 24, 2026By Yonhap
Seoul to continue push for MSCI developed market status bid after remaining in emerging category
Economy

Korean won slumps against US dollar on expectations of Fed rate hike

The South Korean won weakened against the U.S. dollar Tuesday amid renewed expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve would raise its rates this year. The won traded at 1,539.1 won per dollar, down 2.1 won from the previous session, as of 3:30 p.m., partly hit by a sell-off by foreign investors in local stocks. The won opened at 1,539.4 won per dollar earlier in the day but tumbled to as low as 1,542.1 won at one point, marking the weakest level since June 8. Last week, the U.S. Fed held its benchmark interest rate steady in its first rate decision since new Chair Kevin Warsh took office, but at least half of its policymakers anticipated a higher rate later this year. Although global oil prices have declined on the back of progress in peace talks between the U.S. and Iran, the won has been slipping due to expectations of a stronger U.S. dollar. In line with the overnight selling on Wall Street, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index plunged nearly 10 percent to close at 8,203.84. Foreign investors sold a net 4.1 trillion won ($2.6 billion) worth of local stocks on Tuesday.

Jun 23, 2026By Yonhap
Korean won slumps against US dollar on expectations of Fed rate hike
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