SEOUL, Dec. 25 (Korea Bizwire) — Taiwan’s stock market has emerged as the top performer among Asia-Pacific’s major indices in 2024, while South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index lags near the bottom, weighed down by domestic and global challenges. According to CNBC, Taiwan’s Taiex index surged 28.85% this year through December 23, leading gains among 11 key [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — A recent Bank of Korea survey reveals that one in three major South Korean export companies anticipates a decrease in exports next year, citing intensifying competition from China and potential impacts from a second Trump administration among key concerns. According to the central bank’s regional economic report released on December [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s manufacturing and export sectors, the backbone of its economy, are bracing for significant challenges in early 2025 due to rising global trade tensions and domestic political instability. Concerns are growing over protectionist policies from major economies, particularly under the incoming Trump administration, and a leadership void in [...]
SEJONG, Dec. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — The government is set to swiftly deploy additional market stabilization measures, including the injection of the second phase of value-up funds worth 300 billion won (US$207 million) into the country’s stock market, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok said Monday. Choi made the remarks during an emergency meeting with top economic and financial [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Korea Bizwire) – The financial strain on South Korea’s working class has driven card loan balances to an all-time high, reflecting worsening economic conditions for vulnerable populations. As of November 2024, the total card loan balance across nine major card companies, including Lotte, BC, Samsung, Shinhan, and KB Kookmin, reached a record 42.54 [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 20 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea’s potential growth rate is projected to fall below 2% next year, signaling challenges for the nation’s long-term economic sustainability, according to a report released by the Bank of Korea (BOK) on December 19. Without structural reforms in labor markets, birthrate improvement, and increased workforce participation by women and [...]
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (Korea Bizwire) — Hackers linked to North Korea stole more than US$1.3 billion from crypto platforms this year, marking the largest ever annual amount that they have raked in from hacking activities, a report from a blockchain analysis firm showed Thursday. Chainalysis released its analysis on North Korea-affiliated hackers’ activities, saying that [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 20 (Korea Bizwire) – Starting December 21, real estate registry documents for properties under trust will include precautionary notes to prevent rental scams, particularly jeonse fraud, following amendments to the Real Estate Registration Act, the Supreme Court’s Administration Office announced on December 19. Jeonse fraud occurs when tenants are defrauded in jeonse transactions—a unique [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s economy grew at an annualized rate of nearly 7 percent after a change in the base year for economic growth data compilation, central bank data showed Wednesday. According to the data from the Bank of Korea, Asia’s fourth-largest economy expanded at an average 6.9 percent per year [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 17 (Korea Bizwire) — Growth projections for South Korea’s export-dependent economy in 2024 have been revised downward, despite robust semiconductor exports, reflecting slower-than-expected recovery in domestic demand amid high interest rates and lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier in the year, both the South Korean government and major international financial organizations projected [...]