SEOUL, Sept. 6 (Korea Bizwire) – As inflation continues to squeeze household budgets, South Korean consumers are increasingly turning to budget-friendly options at convenience stores. CU, one of the country’s leading convenience store chains, reported a significant surge in sales of products priced under 1,000 won on September 5. The trend reflects a broader shift in [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 4 (Korea Bizwire) – The government proposed raising the pension contribution rate to 13 percent from 9 percent and differentiating the pace of raising the contribution rate by age group, Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong said, in what would be the biggest overhaul of the ailing pension system in 21 years. Details of the [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Korea Bizwire) — In South Korea, a rush for loans at internet banks is intensifying as the country’s five largest banks continue to impose lending restrictions. Customers are flocking to online lenders, which are perceived as more accessible, in a phenomenon known as “open runs” – where borrowers attempt to secure loans as [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s consumer prices slowed to the lowest level in nearly 3 1/2 years in August on easing prices of farm produce and global oil, data showed Tuesday. Consumer prices, a key gauge of inflation, rose 2 percent on-year last month, compared with a 2.6 percent on-year rise a [...]
SEJONG, Sept. 3 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s economy is showing signs of a downturn, with domestic demand struggling to gain momentum. Analysts attribute this trend to the reduction in household discretionary income, a consequence of high interest rates and inflation. According to data from the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS) released on September 2, the [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Korea Bizwire) –In a bold move that could redefine urban living, Samsung C&T’s construction division announced on Monday its plans to introduce a range of cutting-edge technologies in its upcoming apartment complex, Raemian Songdo Station Centripole, set to launch in Incheon’s Yeonsu district this October. The project, fully managed by Samsung C&T [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Korea Bizwire) – Household loans extended by the country’s five major banks rose by the most on record last month despite warnings from the financial regulators and a series of rate hikes, industry sources said Monday. According to the sources, KB Kookmin, Woori and three others extended a combined 9.62 trillion won [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Korea Bizwire) — The head of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) met with the deputy chief of South Korea’s financial regulator Monday for talks on various issues, including regulations on virtual assets, officials said. SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda and Kim So-young, vice chair of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), met [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Korea Bizwire) — The finance ministry said Monday it will push to reduce 32.1 trillion won (US$24.01 billion) of debt incurred by 14 financially troubled public companies combined by 2026 through asset sales and organization restructuring. According to the revised financial management plan, the government set the target debt amount for Korea [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Korea Bizwire) – Banks in South Korea started tightening curbs on mortgage loans on Sunday, officials said, amid concerns over rising housing prices in Seoul and household debts. The move came as the Financial Services Commission asked banks to toughen screenings for new mortgage borrowers and allow them to take out loans [...]