SEOUL, April 9 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean banks will offer English mobile applications and documents this year to help foreign residents get better access to banking services and reduce their inconvenience, the financial watchdog said Wednesday. According to the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), the number of foreign customers at local banks stood at 8.13 [...]
SEOUL, April 9 (Korea Bizwire) — Household loans extended by South Korean banks rose for the second consecutive month in March, central bank data showed Wednesday, amid rising housing prices in the affluent districts of southern Seoul following state deregulatory moves. Banks’ outstanding household loans stood at 1,145 trillion won (US$774.12 billion) as of end-March, [...]
SEOUL, April 9 (Korea Bizwire) — The National Pension Service (NPS), South Korea’s largest institutional investor, recorded a notable increase of more than ₩8 trillion in the market value of its domestic stock holdings during the first quarter of 2025, buoyed by surging defense and shipbuilding stocks. According to financial data provider FnGuide, as of [...]
SEOUL, April 8 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea logged a current account surplus for the 22nd consecutive month in February on rising exports, central bank data showed Tuesday. The country’s current account surplus reached US$7.18 billion in February, following a $2.94 billion surplus the previous month, according to the data compiled by the Bank of [...]
SEOUL, April 7 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s economy is facing “mounting” downside risks due to sluggish production and heightened trade uncertainties sparked by U.S. tariffs, a state-run economic think tank said Monday. “Recently, the Korean economy is facing mounting downward pressure as weakened growth in domestic and external demand has weighed on production and [...]
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 [...]
SEOUL, April 6 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea ranked 29th out of 37 major economies in terms of economic growth during the fourth quarter of 2024, as weak domestic demand and heightened political uncertainty weighed on the nation’s performance, a central bank report showed Sunday. Asia’s fourth-largest economy posted real gross domestic product (GDP) growth [...]