South Korea Finance & Banking

Tesla Rolls Out 'FSD Lite' as Counter to Price Hikes in Korea

Tesla Korea launches FSD v14 Lite on the 10th, making Korea the second market worldwide, as it seeks to offset backlash from recent price hikes on Mod...

Half of Korea's Retirees Rehired as Firms Battle Labor Shortage

Rehiring of Korean retirees past retirement age is surging, with one in two rehired last year as firms battle chronic labor shortages, especially in m...

'World's No. 4 DRAM Maker' China's CXMT Chases Samsung, SK with 6.5 Trillion Won

China's fourth-largest DRAM maker CXMT filed for an IPO to raise 29.5 billion yuan (6.5 trillion won), aiming to chase Samsung Electronics and SK hyni...

Pineapple Emerges as New Summer Drink Star, Challenging Watermelon and Mango

SK hynix Warns Memory Supply Will Be Tightest Next Year

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won said a U.S. memory plant is possible during SK hynix's Nasdaq ADR listing, amid U.S. pressure to expand chip production...

Why the US Opposes a Central Bank Digital Currency

The US opposes a central bank digital currency (CBDC), favoring private stablecoins, while Korea seeks to make a CBDC central to its monetary system, ...

EU Ends Small-Parcel Duty Exemption, a New Variable for K-Beauty Exports

The EU has abolished its de minimis duty exemption on parcels under 150 euros, adding 3 euros per HS code, a new variable for rapidly growing K-beauty...

Gold Prices Take a Breather: How Much Do the Wealthy Hold?

With gold prices correcting from early-year highs, KB private banker Jung Sun-mi advises long-term diversification over chasing rallies, and using tax...

Ruling Party Pushes 52-Hour Workweek Exemption for Mega-Cluster Tech Researchers

Korea's Democratic Party pushes a 52-hour workweek exemption for R&D personnel at semiconductor mega-project firms, as employment insurance rules chan...

Nationwide 3 Billion Won Loan Cap Hits Homebuyers; Private Bonds Surge

KB Kookmin Bank's 3 billion won nationwide mortgage cap leaves Korean homebuyers scrambling for balance payments, while builders' private bond issuanc...

Can Gig Workers Get Unemployment Benefits? Employment Insurance Overhaul Reshapes Safety Net

Korea's employment insurance shifts from working hours to income, letting gig workers earning 800,000 won monthly enroll. Self-employed face triple bu...

Chip Price Targets Split: 360,000 vs 600,000 Won

Korean brokerages are split on chip price targets—DB set Samsung at 360,000 won versus KB's 600,000 won—as SK hynix faces U.S. fab pressure and retail...

Early Heat Wave Fuels Surge in Ready-to-Eat Meal Demand

An early heat wave in Korea is driving surging demand for ready-to-eat meals, with Baemin B Mart instant meal orders up over 90 percent and retailers ...

Seoul Hotel Shortage Fuels Boom in Aging Motels, Serviced Residences

Seoul added 134 lodging facilities in the first half of 2025, the most since 2017, as a room shortage and rising revenue turn aging motels into hot in...

Korea's Food Prices Rank Second-Highest in OECD, Near Switzerland

South Korea's food prices ranked second-highest in the OECD in 2024 at index 146, near Switzerland, while overall prices stayed below average. ADB rai...

SK hynix Eyes 'Memory as a Service' in Subscription Push

SK hynix is exploring a "Memory as a Service" (MaaS) business, as Chairman Tae-won Choi outlines a plan to move beyond chip manufacturing and reshape ...

Chey Says Beating Samsung Is Not the Goal, Stakeholder Satisfaction Comes First

SK Group Chairman Tae-won Choi says competing with Samsung is not his main goal, prioritizing balance among shareholders, customers and employees at S...

Chey Says SK Reviewing US Sites for Memory Fab

SK Group Chairman Tae-won Choi says the group is reviewing global sites including the US for a new SK hynix memory fab, and expects tens of billions i...

Hoban Raises Hanjin Kal Stake to 20.15%, Trailing Chairman Cho by 0.41 Point

Hoban Group raised its Hanjin Kal stake from 18.46% to 20.15%, narrowing the gap with Chairman Cho Won-tae's side to 0.41 percentage point, sparking m...

HLB Liver Cancer Drug Stumbles Again at FDA Over China Partner's Facility

HLB's liver cancer drug rivoceranib received a third FDA Complete Response Letter, citing manufacturing facility issues at China partner Hengrui Pharm...

Chey Rings Nasdaq Bell as SK hynix Deepens Ties With U.S. Big Tech

SK Chairman Chey Tae-won rang the Nasdaq opening bell for SK hynix's ADR listing, which raised $26.5 billion — the largest U.S. IPO by a foreign compa...

Breaking News: SK hynix Lists on Nasdaq; Chey Rings Opening Bell

Coupang Launches 'Rocketpay' for Online and Offline Payments

Coupang will launch "Rocketpay," a payment service for both online and offline use, in the second half of this year, expanding its existing Coupang Pa...

Breaking News: JoongAng Ilbo Enters Workout After Securing Over 75% Creditor Consent

JoongAng Ilbo will enter a workout after creditors including Hana Bank secured over 75% consent, pursuing sales of its headquarters and management con...

Japan Chip Materials-Equipment ETF Returns 105% in One Year

The PLUS Japan Semiconductor Materials-Components-Equipment ETF returned 104.54% over one year, drawing attention as Japan holds a 48% global chip mat...

Loan Cap Freezes Seoul Home Deals, Buyers Fear Losing Deposits

KB Kookmin Bank's cap on home mortgages at 300 million won has thrown Korea's property market into turmoil, hitting thirtysomething buyers and newlywe...

Ruling Party Signals Easing 52-Hour Workweek for R&D in Mega Zones

Korea's ruling Democratic Party signals easing the 52-hour workweek for R&D staff in mega special zones, citing global competition from TSMC, the US, ...

Target-Price Upgrade Parade Stalls as Chip Duo Outlooks Diverge

Nonghyup Adds 92 Branches as Banks Retreat, Safeguarding Rural Finance

While Korea's four major banks cut branches 18.6% over five years, Nonghyup added 92 branches, safeguarding rural finance in areas like Cheongyang fac...

Korea Selects ESS Operators for Distribution Grid, Adding 1GW of Solar

Korea's Climate Ministry selected operators for a 128MW distribution grid ESS project, aiming to connect an additional 1GW of solar power to the grid ...

Seoul Accelerates 310,000-Home Supply Plan With Special Meeting

Seoul urges district offices to speed up redevelopment permits to meet its goal of breaking ground on 310,000 homes by 2031 and ease housing market in...

Wall Street Firms Prepare Leveraged ETFs Tied to SK hynix ADR

Wall Street firms including ProShares are preparing leveraged ETFs tied to SK hynix ADR, with more than six products expected next week, raising volat...

Korea SMEs Agency Opens Gyeonggi's First Local Startup Town in Siheung

The Small Enterprise and Market Service opened Gyeonggi Province's first Local Startup Town in Siheung and signed an MOU with the Siheung Industry Pro...

Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-koo Foundation Backs 10,000 People Over 15 Years

The Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-koo Foundation has supported some 10,000 people with 91.5 billion won over 15 years, producing talents such as pianist Li...

Samsung SDI Takes 66% of Government Next-Generation AI ESS Project

Samsung SDI battery cells were adopted by six of nine winning operators in Korea's government AI-based ESS project, taking 21 of 32 lines (65.6%), sup...

OK Financial Named Preferred Bidder for Yebyul Insurance, Entering Insurance Sector

OK Financial Group has been named the preferred bidder to acquire Yebyul Insurance, marking its entry into the insurance sector, with a share purchase...

Korea's Low-Pay Pension System Yields World's Highest Elderly Poverty

Korea's National Pension replacement rate of 33.4% trails the OECD average of 43.0%, while its elderly poverty rate hits 39.7%, the highest among OECD...

Homeplus Suppliers to Get Up to 500 Million Won in Emergency Loans

The Korean government and banks will provide up to 500 million won in emergency working capital per company to Homeplus suppliers hit by the retailer'...

E-mart Opens Largest No Brand Store in Mongolia to Boost SME Exports

E-mart opened its largest overseas No Brand store in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, aiming to boost Korean SME exports and expand to 15 stores by 2028....

Woori Card Launches 'Super' Card With 2% Discount, No Spending Requirement

Woori Card's new "Card ui Jeongseok 2 Super" offers a 2% discount at all domestic and overseas merchants with no spending requirement, up to 100,000 w...

Doosan Jumps 16% as Analysts Eye AI Data Center Demand

Doosan shares surged over 16% as analysts focused on its AI data center business, following Meta's plan to build 7GW of computing infrastructure this ...

NH NongHyup Bank's AI Recommendations Boost IRP Sign-Ups

NH NongHyup Bank raised its IRP sign-up conversion rate by 25 percentage points using AI-based customized product recommendations and plans to build a...

Namyang Dairy Signs 10 Billion Won K-Food Export Deal with Mongolia

Namyang Dairy signed a 10 billion won K-food export deal with Mongolian distributor Maximus over three years, expanding beyond infant formula amid 81%...

Tesla Launches 'FSD v14 Lite' in Korea for US-Made Model 3, Y

Tesla Korea launched Full Self-Driving (Supervised) v14 Lite on the 10th for US-made Model 3 and Model Y, marking its second market after North Americ...

HD Hyundai Marine Solution Partners with Japan's Weathernews on AI Route Optimization

HD Hyundai Marine Solution signed a business cooperation agreement with Japan's Weathernews to develop AI route optimization, a solution verified to c...

Hyundai CEO Rejects Reinstatement, Retirement Age Extension Ahead of Strike

Hyundai Motor CEO Choi Young-il rejected union demands for reinstating dismissed workers and extending the retirement age, warning that a planned stri...

Woori AM's WON Short-Term Bond Plus Active ETF Tops One-Year Returns

Woori Asset Management's WON Short-Term Bond Plus Active ETF topped one-year returns at 3.09% among 45 domestic short-term bond ETFs, with net inflows...

Korean Air, Asiana Boost Education and Environmental Volunteer Work

Korean Air and Asiana Airlines held aviation career lectures for 140 first-year middle school students in Seoul, expanding joint education-donation an...

Samsung Display Targets China's 700 Million Gamers with Tencent

Samsung Display teams up with Tencent at Bilibili World 2026 in Shanghai, targeting China's 680 million gamers with OLED and QD-OLED displays and its ...

Hanwha Aerospace Opens Sixth H-Lounge at Armed Forces Gangneung Hospital

Hanwha Aerospace opened its sixth H-Lounge at the Armed Forces Gangneung Hospital, refurbishing rest areas with smartphone spaces and a cafeteria for ...

Korea to Overhaul Highway Rest Stops, Slashing Food Prices

Korea's MOLIT unveiled a plan to overhaul highway rest stops, cutting coffee prices to under 2,000 won and adding convenience store promotions by dism...

No Brand Burger Draws Young Founders With Low-Cost Startup Model

Shinsegae Food's No Brand Burger is attracting young entrepreneurs with a compact store model costing about 90 million won, with one in four new franc...

Korea Startup Forum Launches Furniture Support Campaign for Early-Stage Startups

Korea Startup Forum, Bucketplace, and the Asan Nanum Foundation provided office furniture to five early-stage startups through a pay-it-forward ecosys...

Korea Insurance Institute Unveils Three AI Solutions in 'Great Transformation'

The Korea Insurance Institute declared 2025 its "first year of AI great transformation" on its 61st anniversary, unveiling three AI solutions: AI Sale...

Hanmi's Melanoma Drug Belvarafenib Advances in Phase 2 Trial

Hanmi Pharmaceutical is accelerating its Phase 2 trial of belvarafenib for NRAS-mutated melanoma, aiming to complete enrollment by 2027 and seek condi...