All Kospi-listed firms required to file in English by 2028

Korea will require Kospi-listed companies with at least 2 trillion won ($1.4 billion) in assets to file key regulatory disclosures in English next year, with the mandate expanding to all Kospi firms by 2028, the nation’s top financial regulator said. Beginning in May, large Kospi companies will need to provide English-language filings on dividends, rights offerings, treasury share cancellations and other major events, according to the Financial Services Commission. The move is the second stage o

Nov. 16, 2025

Foreign buying spree on Korean stocks continues for 6th month

Foreign investors invested over 4 trillion won ($2.8 billion) into the South Korean stock market in October, marking six consecutive months of net buying, data showed Friday. Offshore investors purchased a net 4.2 trillion won in listed stocks last month, according to the Financial Supervisory Service. Of that amount, 4.195 trillion won went into the main bourse Kospi, while 10 billion won was invested in the secondary bourse Kosdaq. Foreign investors’ combined stock holdings stood at 1,248.9 tr

Nov. 14, 2025

Korean won jumps following authoritative intervention

The South Korean won experienced a sharp gain against the dollar in early trading Friday, following a verbal intervention by the local foreign exchange authorities. The won was quoted at 1,458.38 per dollar as of 11 a.m. Friday, gaining nearly 8 won from the close of after-hours trading. The won began trading at 1,471.9 per dollar and further depreciated to 1,474.9, pressured by US-driven risk-off sentiment and foreign investors’ net selling in the local stock market. However, following the verb

Nov. 14, 2025

South Korea ripe for more private credit exposure: Apax exec

Institutional investors in Korea are ramping up their allocations to private credit as they seek to broaden alternative portfolios while maintaining tighter risk control, according to a senior executive at global private equity firm Apax Partners. Derek Jackson, partner and head of Credit at Apax, said Korean institutions are increasingly exploring private credit — debt financing provided by nonbank lenders such as private equity firms — as they look for yield and diversification beyond traditio

Nov. 13, 2025

WeMakePrice goes bankrupt after failed turnaround

A South Korean court on Monday declared the bankruptcy of WeMakePrice, marking the end of a failed rehabilitation effort to revive the troubled e-commerce business. The Seoul Bankruptcy Court ruled WeMakePrice bankrupt, roughly a year and half after the platform filed for court receivership on July 29, 2024, along with its e-commerce affiliate Tmon. In 2024, WeMakePrice and Tmon struggled with delayed payments due to a liquidity crisis associated with its parent company, Qoo10 Group. Though WeMa

Nov. 10, 2025

Ex-Kakao CIO sues Mirae Asset over account hack loss

Kakao’s former Chief Investment Officer Bae Jae-hyun has filed a lawsuit against Mirae Asset Securities, seeking compensation for a hack of his account that allegedly resulted in losses of 11 billion won ($7.5 million). According to industry sources, Bae filed a lawsuit last month against Mirae Asset Securities, demanding that the brokerage house compensate him for the assets siphoned from his Mirae Asset account. Shortly after Bae was taken into custody in October 2023 on charges of stock price

Nov. 10, 2025

[Photo News] Hana shares warmth through kimchi

SHARING WARMTH WITH KIMCHI — Hana Financial Group executives, employees and their families join a "gimjang," or kimchi-making, event at the group's headquarters in Seoul on Monday as part of the 2025 Modu Hana Day campaign. Some 250 people, including representatives of Hana's partner firms, participated in the annual event to donate kimchi to Youngnak Borinwon, a child care facility in central Seoul. Hana Financial Chair Ham Young-joo (center) said the firm will "share warmth with those experien

Nov. 10, 2025

Top banking groups to inject W500tr into 'productive, inclusive' finance

KB Financial Group and Shinhan Financial Group announced Sunday that they will each commit 110 trillion won ($75 billion) to promote "productive" and "inclusive" finance over the next five years. This brings the total allocations by the country's five major banking groups — KB, Shinhan, Hana, Woori and NongHyup — to 508 trillion won. Productive finance is a term promoted by the Lee administration focuses on productivity-boosting investment, providing venture capital and similar finance rather th

Nov. 9, 2025

Hana Financial ramps up digital asset, AI strategy

Hana Financial Group, one of South Korea's leading banking groups, announced Thursday that it will pursue financial transformation by embracing digital assets and AI. As part of these efforts, the group has launched a task force under its holding company to lead digital asset-related initiatives to keep pace with the rapid growth of the market. Through the initiative, the group plans to accelerate the development of digital asset products, services and infrastructure in line with the country's l

Nov. 6, 2025

Mirae Asset’s overseas profit share hits record high

Mirae Asset Securities’ overseas business is taking on a larger role in its earnings profile, with foreign subsidiaries posting a record pretax profit of nearly 300 billion won ($207 million) through the third quarter, representing 23 percent of total company profit, the highest to date. “Supported by robust flow trading operations in advanced markets and expanding wealth management businesses in emerging markets, including Vietnam, Indonesia and India, the company maintained solid recurring pro

Nov. 6, 2025