SEOUL, June 10 (Korea Bizwire) — As momentum builds for the launch of won-backed stablecoins in South Korea, the Bank of Korea (BOK) is mounting a vocal defense of the traditional monetary system, warning that poorly designed frameworks could undermine financial stability and weaken the won’s position as legal tender. The central bank will host [...]
SEOUL, June 10 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean companies turned to banks at a significantly higher rate in the first quarter of 2025, with demand for operating funds driving a sharp rise in corporate borrowing, according to new data released Tuesday by the Bank of Korea (BOK). The total outstanding loans to local companies reached 1,979.5 [...]
SEOUL, June 10 (Korea Bizwire) — Transactions of over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives rose to the highest level last year, helped by a sharp increase in currency forwards and interest swaps, data showed Tuesday. The combined turnover of OTC derivatives, including stock options and interest rate swaps, came to 26,461 trillion won (US$19.41 trillion) last year, up [...]
SEOUL, June 9 (Korea Bizwire) — Leading global investment banks have begun upgrading their forecasts for South Korea’s economic growth in 2025, citing expectations of fiscal stimulus from the new administration and easing trade tensions between the U.S. and China. After months of downward revisions driven by sluggish domestic consumption and weak exports, institutions such [...]
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 [...]
SEOUL, June 7 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s entertainment stocks are rallying on renewed hopes of a diplomatic thaw with China, as investors bet on policy tailwinds under President Lee Jae-myung’s new administration. According to data released by the Korea Exchange, shares of the nation’s four major entertainment companies have surged an average of 56.7% [...]
SEOUL, June 4 (Korea Bizwire) — As South Korea prepares to usher in a new administration following the 21st presidential election, the nation’s digital asset industry is poised for a potential regulatory breakthrough, with both leading candidates expressing support for broader integration of blockchain-based financial products into the legal framework. Both Lee Jae-myung and Kim [...]
SEOUL, June 4 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s banking industry is calling on the incoming administration to open the door for greater involvement in the digital asset space and non-financial sectors, while also seeking regulatory reforms in investment advisory services, trust systems, and enforcement transparency. According to banking officials on June 3, the Korea Federation [...]
SEOUL, June 2 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korean stocks finished slightly higher Monday, as investors took a wait-and-see posture ahead of the crucial presidential election amid signs of renewed trade tensions between the United States and China. The local currency rose against the U.S. dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 1.3 [...]
SEOUL, May 30 (Korea Bizwire) — The number of homes in South Korea owned by foreign nationals surpassed 100,000 for the first time in 2024, with Chinese buyers accounting for more than half, according to data released Friday by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. As of December 2024, foreigners owned 100,216 residential properties across [...]