SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Korea Bizwire) – The country’s chief financial regulator said Monday that financial authorities are ready to take additional measures, if needed, to rein in soaring household debt. During a parliamentary audit, Lee Eog-weon, the chairman of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), said his agency is taking preemptive measures to secure financial stability. [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — Gold prices are soaring to record levels, propelling gold-related exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in South Korea to an average monthly return of more than 20 percent — even as the domestic stock market hits new highs. The unusual parallel rise of risky assets such as equities and traditional safe havens like [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s battery sector has roared back to life this month, rebounding sharply from months of stagnation tied to electric vehicle (EV) demand concerns. The rally has sent related exchange-traded funds (ETFs) soaring, though analysts caution that the upswing may be short-lived. According to data from the Korea Exchange as [...]
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea’s top economic policymakers gathered in Washington this week, pressing to finalize a landmark trade agreement that could redefine the industrial and strategic alignment between Seoul and Washington. Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick met Thursday for what officials described as an “in-depth” two-hour discussion [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s main stock index soared to a record high on Thursday, buoyed by optimism over a potential trade breakthrough with the United States and strong foreign buying. The benchmark KOSPI rose 2.49 percent to close at 3,748.37, breaking both its intraday and closing records and surpassing the 3,700 mark [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Korea Bizwire) — Household lending in South Korea grew at its slowest pace in six months in September, new data showed Thursday, as tougher regulations and seasonal factors cooled borrowing amid renewed efforts to rein in housing prices and rising household debt. According to the Bank of Korea, household loans extended by banks [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Korea Bizwire) – Binance, the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange, has finalized its acquisition of a South Korean crypto exchange, authorities said Thursday, taking its first step to enter the local digital assets market. The Korea Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), under the Financial Services Commission (FSC), has approved Binance’s acquisition of GOPAX on [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s financial regulator has launched an on-site inspection into securities firms and banks accused of mis-selling a 90 billion won ($65 million) investment product that collapsed entirely, marking the first major consumer protection probe under the leadership of newly appointed Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Governor Lee Chan-jin. The FSS [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean police say recent criminal investigations have exposed a growing use of virtual assets to launder the proceeds of large-scale frauds, reigniting debate over the need for stronger oversight as authorities and industry consider expanding the use of digital currencies, including won-pegged stablecoins. The Ulsan Police Agency disclosed [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s top policy aide to President Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday that the government is considering a comprehensive overhaul of real estate taxation — including possible hikes in property holding taxes — as it moves to rein in surging home prices in Seoul and surrounding regions. Kim Yong-beom, the [...]