The CEOs of major foreign insurance firms in Korea have been reappointed as they navigate challenges posed by a slowing market and local competition. Lina Life Insurance, the Korean unit of American insurance group Chubb, recently nominated current CEO and President Cho Jee-eun as the sole candidate for reappointment. Barring any unexpected issues, she is expected to secure her next term at the extraordinary shareholders meeting on Oct. 29. Fubon Hyundai Life’s Lee Jae-won and MetLife Kore

Industry Oct. 16, 2024

K bank, South Korea's first internet-only bank, has announced plans for business expansion, seeking to raise over 1 trillion won ($733.6 million) from its upcoming initial public offering. "K bank will drive inclusive and innovative finance by using the IPO funds to advance our three core growth strategies — retail, small- and medium-sized enterprises and platforms — along with risk management and technology," said CEO Choi Woo-hyung during a press conference in Seoul

Economy Oct. 15, 2024

Eight out of 10 international college students studying in Korea are willing to work in the country, yet the proportion of professional foreign laborers securing jobs remains quite low, according to a recent report by the Korea International Trade Association. The report, released Monday, noted that the number of foreign students in Korea has steadily increased over the past decade, reaching 197,000 in 2022. However, only 6 percent of these students secured employment through the E-7-1 professio

Economy Oct. 14, 2024

Samsung Electronics, South Korea’s largest chipmaker, has seen its market cap shrink by a staggering 90 trillion won ($66.6 billion) since September, largely driven by a sustained selling spree among foreign investors. According to the Korea Exchange on Sunday, foreigners have net sold 10.6 trillion won in Samsung Electronics shares over the past month, marking 23 consecutive days of selling since Sept. 3 -- just two days shy of the record 25-day selling streak set in 2022. During this per

Market Oct. 13, 2024

Toss Securities CEO Kim Seung-yeon resigned abruptly Thursday, six months before the end of his term. The firm's head of product, Kim Gyu-bin, was appointed as his successor during a general shareholders' meeting earlier in the day. Kim Seung-yeon, appointed to serve from April 2023 until April 2025, stepped down for "personal reasons," according to the company, which is the brokerage arm of fintech giant Toss. With his appointment, Kim Gyu-bin, 35, became the first securitie

Industry Oct. 10, 2024

Korea's first internet-only bank, K bank, is preparing for its upcoming initial public offering, with demand forecasting kicking off Thursday. According to its securities registration filing, K bank started a weeklong demand forecast from institutional investors on Thursday. This process allows investors to submit their desired purchase quantities and prices before the public offering, guiding the company in determining the final offering price. K bank's target price range is set betwe

Market Oct. 10, 2024

Fueled by the surge in digital content consumption during the pandemic, the global webcomic market has seen unprecedented growth in recent years, with South Korea, home to a $1.1 billion webtoon market, cementing its position as a leader in this burgeoning industry. Leveraging Korea's unmatched market data and intellectual property, Seoul-based artificial intelligence startup Toonsquare, which provides creative tools for webcomic creators, is now aiming to expand its global presence, with g

Industry Oct. 6, 2024

Despite clear signs of slowing inflation, market sentiment remains mixed regarding whether South Korea's central bank will follow the US Federal Reserve to pivot toward lowering rates this month. Statistics Korea reported that the consumer price index — a key measure of inflation — rose 1.6 percent on-year in September, down from 2 percent in August, marking the lowest level since February 2021, when it recorded a 1.4 percent increase. The last time the index fell below the 2 pe

Economy Oct. 4, 2024

Local retail investors experienced significant losses from Korean shares in the third quarter while foreign investors fared relatively well amid the Kospi’s bearish trend in the period, market data showed on Thursday. According to the Korea Exchange, the most purchased stock by South Korean retail investors from July to September was Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest memory chipmaker, with net purchases totaling 7.82 trillion won ($5.9 billion). Following Samsung, SK hynix, th

Market Oct. 3, 2024

Korea Zinc, the world's largest zinc smelter, is launching a tender offer to repurchase shares valued at up to 3.1 trillion won ($2.25 billion) to defend its position in the ongoing management dispute with Young Poong, its largest shareholder, and private equity firm MBK Partners. Korea Zinc Chairman Choi Yun-beom announced Wednesday during a press conference in Seoul that the company’s board has resolved to initiate this tender offer for treasury shares. Choi said the tender offer ai

Industry Oct. 2, 2024

The local carbon trading market is set for a boost early next year, with an influx of financial firms joining as players and securities firms expanding their roles as transaction brokers. Effective Feb. 7, 2025, the government has amended the Enforcement Decree on the Allocation and Trading of Greenhouse Gas Emission Permits, allowing financial institutions -- such as asset managers, banks and insurers -- to participate. These firms will be required to trade through brokers. The revision also es

Economy Sept. 26, 2024

Korea Water Resources Corporation, or K-water showcased Wednesday its cutting-edge "super gap" technologies and a range of innovations to tackle water-related risks at the 3rd Asia International Water Week in Beijing, marking a significant step toward securing leadership in the global water technology market. At the six-day event, K-water, Korea's state-run water management agency, hosted a special session focused on climate change and the advancement of digital water management w

Industry Sept. 25, 2024

Following the US Federal Reserve's historic half-point rate cut, expectations are rising that South Korea may follow suit, while closely monitoring its overheated real estate market and soaring household debt. On Wednesday, following a two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting, the Fed cut its benchmark rate by 50 basis points, marking its first reduction in over four years since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in 2020 and the first half-point cut since the 2008 global financial crisis.

Economy Sept. 19, 2024

South Korea’s online banking firm K bank is gearing up for what could be one of the biggest market debuts this year, while its crosstown rival Toss seeks to follow suit in 2025. The country's first internet-only lender K bank is taking the final steps for its listing on the benchmark Kospi at the end of October. K bank said on Sept. 13 it filed a securities registration statement with the Financial Services Commission for review. It plans to offer 82 million new shares, with a target

Industry Sept. 18, 2024

Woori Financial Group, one of South Korea’s top five financial conglomerates, announced on Wednesday it created a 100 billion won ($75 million) fund to provide liquidity to the struggling real estate project financing (PF) sector. The fund was raised through contributions from the group’s subsidiaries, with flagship Woori Bank contributing the bulk at 90 billion won. Woori Asset Management, Woori Financial Capital and Woori Investment & Securities each contributed 5 billion won,

Industry Sept. 18, 2024