Most Popular
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Marine Corps commander summoned by CIO for questioning on alleged influence-peddling case
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Debate rages over ‘overly fatty’ samgyeopsal
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[Weekender] Korean psyche untangled: Musok
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40 flights canceled on Jeju Island due to bad weather
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N. Korea slams US, other countries for seeking alternative to UN sanctions monitoring panel
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Pandemic left Korea more depressed than before: report
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[Eye Interview] 'If you live to 100, you might as well be happy,' says 88-year-old bestselling essayist
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Gov't appears to shelve punitive measures against mass walkout by doctors
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From fake prostitution ring to nonexistent robber, prank calls hamper police
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Missing S. Korean traveler in Paris found safe after 2 weeks
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S. Korea to diversify trade partnerships, portfolio amid uncertainties: finance minister
South Korea will diversify its free trade partnerships with more nations to address the growing economic uncertainties and jitters in the global supply chain, the finance minister said Wednesday. Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho made the remark ahead of a closed-door meeting, where economy-related ministers discussed various issues, including expanding free trade deals and coping with protectionism from major countries, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. "Recently, the global e
April 5, 2023
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Busan could generate W60tr as host of 2030 World Expo
Competition is fierce for countries around the world to win the bid to host the 2030 World Expo -- not only would the event significantly raise a nation's status, but it could also potentially provide a huge boost to the region's economy and the domestic business ecosystem. According to research conducted by South Korea's 2030 Expo Bid Promotion Headquarters, if Busan wins the contest to host the event, the country will be able to raise more than 60 trillion won ($45 billion) duri
April 4, 2023
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National debt hits all-time high on pandemic spending
South Korea's national debt is growing at an alarming pace, posting a record high of over 1,067 trillion won ($811 billion) last year, the Finance Ministry said Tuesday. The country’s debts – the amount owed by central and provincial governments, excluding state and public bonds owned by national institutions such as the National Pension Service -- came to a record 1,067.7 trillion won last year, according to a report on the 2022 national settlement of accounts approved at a C
April 4, 2023
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S. Korea's consumer prices up 4.2 % in March
South Korea's on-year growth in consumer prices fell to the lowest level in a year in March, data showed Tuesday, in the latest signal that inflation could slow throughout this year. Consumer prices, a key gauge of inflation, rose 4.2 percent last month from a year earlier, slowing from the rise of 4.8 percent tallied in February, according to the report from Statistics Korea. It marked the lowest level since a 4.1-percent growth tallied in March 2022. Inflation stayed above 2 percent --
April 4, 2023
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[K-Financiers] Mirae Asset sets down roots in Vietnam
This is the fifth installment of a series of interviews on chiefs who run overseas units of Korean asset management, banking and securities companies, examining their key strategies for global expansion. -- Ed. Taking a step beyond simply adapting to the local market, Seoul-based securities firm Mirae Asset Securities’ Vietnamese arm looks to fully establish itself in the Southeast Asian country. Since 2007, South Korea's largest securities firm Mirae Asset Securities has been wor
April 3, 2023
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Korea fails to join World Government Bond Index
Despite the government’s efforts, Korea failed to join World Government Bond Index, a global benchmark that measures the performance of sovereign bonds. Financial Times Stock Exchange Russell, the index operator of WGBI, announced its Fixed Income Country Classification on Thursday. Korea will remain on the watch list, being placed on hold for its index inclusion until the next decision. Korea, which had been on the watch list, a prerequisite for its potential inclusion, since September,
March 31, 2023
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KB earns top rating for ESG management
KB Financial Group announced Wednesday that it earned the title of the first and only Korean financial firm to receive the top AAA rating on the 2022 MSCI ESG Index -- an index organized by Morgan Stanley Capital International which evaluates companies based on their environmental, social and governance performance. The MSCI ESG Index measures a company’s management of long-term, financially relevant ESG risks and opportunities relative to their peers, according to MSCI. The rating categor
March 29, 2023
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Korea cuts tourist red tape, aims to triple visitors this year
South Korea will exempt visa-free foreign entrants from using the electronic travel authorization system, or K-ETA, normally required when entering the country until next year, in a bid to rekindle tourism, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday. Of 112 visa-waiver countries, the exemption scheme for the Electronic Travel Permit System will be applied to 22 select countries with a large volume of visitors and low rates of visa application rejection, including the United States, Japan, Hong K
March 29, 2023
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[KH Explains] Why Korea is pushing for World Government Bond Index inclusion
South Korea is expected to join the World Government Bond Index in September, a crucial step for it to attract more foreign funds, according to industry sources on Wednesday. WGBI, managed by Financial Times Stock Exchange Russell, is one of the three major government bond indices, along with the Bloomberg-Barclays Global Aggregate Index and JP Morgan Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets. Tracked by funds worth $2.5 trillion to $3 trillion, it measures the performance of sovereign bonds from 2
March 29, 2023
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Inflation expectations inch down for March despite worries over utility bills
South Korea's inflation expectations inched down for March despite worries over rising public utility bills, a central bank survey showed Wednesday. Ordinary people expected consumer prices to rise 3.9 percent for the year ahead, down 0.1 percentage point from what was surveyed a month earlier, according to the poll conducted by the Bank of Korea. It followed two straight months of a rise. "While price increases in processed food, dining out and transportation remain high, oil prices h
March 29, 2023
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2024 budget to boost defense, welfare spending
South Korea will continue to tighten its belt by reducing more than 10 percent of its discretionary expenditure while planning to funnel the budget into boosting national security and creating jobs for young people. Next year's budget plan is expected to remain at around 670 trillion won ($515.9 billion), up about 4.8 percent from this year's 638.7 trillion won, which was proposed as a mid- to long-term plan by the government. The budget will be earmarked for enhancing economic vital
March 28, 2023
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The global banking crisis and world economy
By Jeffrey D. Sachs The banking crisis that hit Silicon Valley Bank at the beginning of March has now spread rapidly and widely. We recall with a shudder two recent financial contagions: the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, which led to a deep Asian recession, and the 2008 Great Recession, which led to a global downturn. The new banking crisis hits a world economy already disrupted by the pandemic, the Ukraine War, Western sanctions on Russia, US-China tensions, and climate shocks. At the root of
March 28, 2023
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Korea mulls measures to spur spending amid inflation woes
The government is expected to unveil its scheme to invigorate domestic spending and tourism this week, amid stagnant exports struggles, to shore up the economy. The Ministry of Economy and Finance and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism are drawing up measures chiefly aimed at reviving the local tourism industry, which remains depressed in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Authorities are looking at ways to launch a coupon program that provides a certain discount when booking hotel
March 27, 2023
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Local banks show no signs of withdrawal problems: regulator
South Korea's financial regulator said Monday that local banks showed no signs of abnormality in their withdrawal and deposit operations. The assessment by the Financial Supervisory Service came amid concerns of a global banking crisis following the recent failures of two US banks -- Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank -- and the stock plunge of Deutsche Bank, Germany's largest bank. Only a small number of customers with deposits exceeding 50 million won ($38,400), the maximum amoun
March 27, 2023
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Improved ties with Japan to boost exports, consumption: finance minister
South Korea and Japan's latest efforts to restore bilateral ties will give a "significant positive spillover" to Asia's No. 4 economy, the finance minister said Friday. On Thursday, South Korea completed procedures to drop a complaint it filed with the World Trade Organization against Japan over Tokyo's trade curbs as it began domestic procedures to put Japan back on its "white list" of trusted trade partners. The move came after President Yoon Suk Yeol held su
March 24, 2023
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US Fed’s quarter-point rate rise eases pressure on South Korea
The US Federal Reserve lifted its base rate by 25 basis points on Thursday, easing pressure for the Bank of Korea, which had been concerned about key rate differences between the two countries. The Federal Open Market Committee went for a quarter-point move, raising the target interest rate from 4.5-4.75 percent to 4.75-5 percent. The quarter-point raise fell in line with the market expectation which projected the Fed will not go for a 50 basis point hike following the recent turmoil in the bank
March 23, 2023
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S. Korea to raise guard against market instability after Fed rate hike
South Korea's chief economic policymaker warned Thursday of the possibility of further instability in the global financial market, such as a recent bank turmoil sparked by the failure of American lenders, amid the continued monetary tightening moves by the United States and major economies. Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho made the assessment during an emergency meeting on the macroeconomic situation, which was also attended by Bank of Korea Gov. Rhee Chang-yong and other officials. On Wednes
March 23, 2023
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Korea, Japan to expedite trade talks after summit
South Korea and Japan are accelerating their efforts to break down bilateral trade barriers induced by a historical row and to push for revival of economic cooperation. As early as this week, Japan will wrap up procedures to lift restrictions on exports of key semiconductor materials to Korea, while Korea will withdraw its complaint filed with the World Trade Organization against the export curbs, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Chang-yang said during a press briefing Wednesday. W
March 22, 2023
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Finance ministers of Korea, Japan may meet after 7 years
Top financial policymakers of Korea and Japan may hold a one-on-one meeting for the first time in seven years, following the recent easing of tensions between South Korea and Japan. The Finance Ministry is looking into launching talks between its minister Choo Kyung-ho and his Japanese counterpart Shunichi Suzuki, following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s state visit to Japan. With the Korean government announcing that a Seoul-backed foundation would compensate victims of wartime forced labor ea
March 21, 2023
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OECD slashes S. Korea's 2023 growth outlook to 1.6 percent
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Friday revised down South Korea's growth outlook for 2023 to 1.6 percent, as the global economy continues to stand on "fragile" grounds amid uncertainties. The latest outlook, released through the Paris-based organization's interim report, marked a 0.2 percentage-point drop from a 1.8 percent growth projection in November. The downward revision is in line with the Bank of Korea's assessment released
March 17, 2023