SEOUL, June 23 (Korea Bizwire) — South Koreans in their 30s to 60s scored an average of 69.9 out of 100 in overall retirement preparedness, reflecting modest improvement over the past five years but revealing persistent disparities across income levels, marital status, and geographic regions. According to a new government-commissioned report released by the Korea [...]
SEOUL, June 19 (Korea Bizwire) — In a milestone for South Korea’s luxury financial market, Hyundai Card has become the first local issuer to launch the American Express Centurion Card—widely known as the “original black card”—marking the domestic debut of a product long reserved for the global ultra-elite. The card, issued exclusively by invitation and [...]
SEOUL, June 17 (Korea Bizwire) — A new report warns that South Korea’s elderly population faces a growing “double burden” as rising health insurance premiums and income taxes increasingly eat into public pension payouts, significantly reducing retirees’ real disposable income. According to a study released Tuesday by the National Pension Research Institute, the 2022 overhaul of [...]
SEOUL, June 16 (Korea Bizwire) — Global investors are showing renewed confidence in South Korea’s stock market, with over ₩1 trillion (US$770 million) pouring into the iShares MSCI Korea ETF (ticker: EWY) this month alone—the highest monthly inflow in 18 months. The U.S.-listed exchange-traded fund, which offers global investors passive exposure to Korea’s leading equities, has [...]
SEOUL, June 15 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s household debts stood at nearly 1.7 times their disposable income, data showed Sunday, with the pressure for loan repayment driving down consumer spending, potentially triggering an economic recession. The debt-to-income ratio for South Korean households and nonprofit organizations came to 174.7 percent as of end-2024, according to [...]
SEOUL, June 13 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s stock market has soared for six consecutive trading days following the inauguration of President Lee Jae-myung, but retail investors who bet against the rally are now grappling with mounting losses. The benchmark KOSPI index closed above the 2,920 mark on Thursday, up 8.19% since June 4—Lee’s first [...]
SEOUL, June 11 (Korea Bizwire) — President Lee Jae-myung on Wednesday unveiled a sweeping vision to revitalize South Korea’s capital markets by promoting dividend-friendly policies, cracking down on unfair trading practices, and positioning equities as a viable alternative to real estate for household investment. Speaking at a roundtable held at the Korea Exchange’s Market Surveillance Committee [...]
Seoul, June 10 (Korea Bizwire) — Foreign investors have poured nearly 4 trillion won into South Korea’s stock markets so far this month, igniting fresh optimism that the benchmark KOSPI index could break through the symbolic 3,000-point barrier in the coming weeks. According to financial data provider Yonhap Infomax, foreign investors have recorded net purchases of [...]
SEOUL, June 9 (Korea Bizwire) — Corporate retirement pension funds grew nearly 13 percent from a year earlier in 2024, breaching the 400 trillion-won mark for the first time since their introduction in 2005, while their return on investment declined, data showed Monday. The total amount of corporate retirement pension funds under management came to [...]
SEOUL, June 9 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s alternative trading system (ATS), NextTrade (NXT), is rapidly gaining traction as a go-to platform for off-hours stock trading, with pre-market and after-hours volumes soaring fivefold over the past two months. Despite the momentum, the company says it will prioritize stability over aggressive expansion. According to figures released by [...]