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 [...]
SEOUL, March 28 (Korea Bizwire) – Among 2,047 high-ranking South Korean officials required to disclose their assets, many have significant holdings in major international technology companies, according to government records released on March 27. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok invested nearly 200 million won in 30-year U.S. Treasury bonds last year, while [...]
SEOUL, March 27 (Korea Bizwire) — Shinhan Card announced on Thursday the launch of TripPass, a new finance and identity verification platform designed to enhance the experience of foreign tourists and residents in South Korea. The platform offers seamless digital services from identity authentication to payments, and is accompanied by two types of prepaid cards. Developed [...]
SEOUL, March 27 (Korea Bizwire) — Foreign bank branches in South Korea continued to enjoy a rise in their net profit last year as a sharp increase in their gains from trading of foreign currencies and derivatives more than offset a decline in their interest income, data showed Thursday. The combined net profit of 32 [...]
SEOUL, March 27 (Korea Bizwire) – The South Korean government announced on March 26 an expanded loan program offering interest rate subsidies to small and medium-sized manufacturers of eco-friendly vehicle components, part of its ongoing push to strengthen the nation’s green automotive sector. Under the program, eligible companies can receive loans of up to 10 [...]
SEOUL, March 27 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea’s advanced technologies in semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI) and other key industries will serve as a chance for the country to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI), a senior official from the Singapore-based United Overseas Bank (UOB) has said, emphasizing that FDI would be a useful tool for [...]