SEOUL, April 7 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s largest banks posted record-breaking profits in 2024, yet their hiring of entry-level employees remained flat or declined, drawing criticism for neglecting their social responsibility to create jobs—particularly for young job seekers facing a worsening employment climate. According to data obtained by Rep. Kim Hyun-jung of the National [...]
SEOUL, April 7 (Korea Bizwire) — The South Korean market could face heightened volatility for a longer-than-expected period due to the Donald Trump administration’s sweeping tariff policy, the central bank said Monday, calling for prompt implementation of market stabilization measures when necessary. Bank of Korea (BOK) Deputy Gov. Ryoo Sang-dai made the assessment during an [...]
SEOUL, April 7 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s financial regulator asked local banks on Monday to play an active role in providing funds for businesses facing difficulties due to the Donald Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs. Kim Byoung-hwan, the chief of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), made the call during a meeting with the heads of [...]
SEOUL, April 6 (Korea Bizwire) — Short selling activity in South Korean amounted to 6.4 trillion won (US$4.38 billion) in the first week after a more than a yearlong ban was lifted, the bourse operator said Sunday. Last Monday, short selling was allowed for all listed firms following a suspension imposed in November 2023 after [...]
BRUSSELS, April 3 (Korea Bizwire) — The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan met for talks in Brussels on Thursday, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping global tariffs. The talks between Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, and his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Marco Rubio and Takeshi Iwaya, respectively, took [...]
SEOUL, April 3 (Korea Bizwire) — Nearly half of all debts held by individuals and businesses in South Korea are real estate market-related loans, which may stymie economic growth and undermine financial stability, the central bank said Thursday. The country’s total real estate credit amounted to 1,932.5 trillion won (US$1.32 trillion) as of end-2024, accounting [...]
SEOUL, April 1 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s household loans extended by major banks slowed in March following a sharp increase the previous month, industry data showed Tuesday. Outstanding household loans extended by five major commercial banks, including KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank and Hana Bank, stood at 738.55 trillion won(US$502 billion) at the end [...]
SEOUL, April 1 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s publicly listed startup firms are increasingly embracing dividend payouts, signaling a strategic shift from a growth-at-all-costs mindset to one more attuned to shareholder value and corporate transparency. Traditionally, young companies have reinvested profits to fund expansion, often overlooking dividends. But amid a rising chorus of retail investor demands [...]
SEOUL, March 30 (Korea Bizwire) — The number of virtual asset investors in South Korea has surpassed 16 million, drawing close to overtaking the number of stock investors in the country, data showed Sunday. A total of 16.29 million people had accounts at the top five domestic virtual asset exchanges — Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit [...]
SEOUL, March 29 (Korea Bizwire) — In the first quarter of 2025, foreign investors significantly increased their holdings in South Korean semiconductor and defense stocks, led by SK Hynix, while retreating from shipbuilding and automotive shares, according to data from the Korea Exchange. From January to March 28, foreign investors were net sellers of 4.73 trillion [...]