A softer U.S. inflation report lowered interest rate hike expectations, while chipmakers recovered from a violent July correction that had plunged the benchmark into a historic rout. Asian stock markets mostly advanced as renewed demand for technology shares altered market trajectories. In South Korea, the KOSPI pared earlier gains to trade up 3.5 per cent, … Read more
The Democratic Party’s push to establish a secondary comprehensive special counsel has triggered renewed internal party friction over candidate nominations. The controversy centers on the inclusion of a lawyer previously linked to Ssangbangwool Group, a choice that critics within political circles argue reflects poorly on leadership and disrespects the presidential office. According to reports from … Read more
South Korean police raided the national headquarters of Starbucks Korea in Seoul’s Centerfield building on Aug. 5, straitstimes.com, as part of an ongoing investigation into a controversial marketing campaign. Investigators with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s special detective unit executed the search-and-seizure warrant to examine whether company officials planned the promotion with the intent to … Read more
South Korea suspended new listings of single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds and tripled its minimum deposit requirement to 30 million won, roughly $20,285, following severe losses in popular chip-linked investment products that plunged up to 40% in weeks. Retail investors chasing the artificial intelligence chip rally in South Korea experienced a severe financial reversal after the … Read more
South Korea’s factory activity expanded to 53.1 in July, driven by a surge in semiconductor and automotive export demand. The manufacturing PMI remained above the 50 expansion threshold for an eighth consecutive month, according to S&P Global, as an artificial intelligence boom fueled robust chip shipments. July Factory Growth Accelerates on Strong Export Demand South … Read more
South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index surged 18% in a record single-day rebound on Friday, tracking Wall Street gains and a recovery in artificial intelligence stocks. Despite the sharp bounce, the index experienced a volatile July where it plunged more than 33% at its lowest point, driven by retail leverage, Chinese chip competition, and earnings pressures. … Read more
Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) has issued $700 million in global bonds to secure operational liquidity and manage its debt profile, according to legal filings and reports from Law.asia. The issuance was structured under Rule 144A and Regulation S, allowing the South Korean state-owned utility to tap both U.S. institutional investors and international markets. The … Read more
Rising wage disparities and the growing gap in performance-based compensation—often described as a “performance-based class society”—have ignited internal labor tensions within South Korea’s major technology firms. Employees are increasingly voicing frustration over significant variations in bonus payouts, which have fueled internal friction and prompted concerns regarding talent retention and organizational culture. The core of the … Read more
National Assembly member Lee Un-ju publicly criticized the internal distribution of committee chairperson positions within the Democratic Party of Korea, alleging that the selection process lacked transparent, merit-based criteria. In a statement posted to her social media account on September 3, Lee characterized the current approach as a “division of spoils” that excludes certain members, … Read more
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government is centering its ninth elective term on the principles of fairness, innovation, and inclusion, according to official policy frameworks. The administration’s success now depends on its ability to secure sustainable funding and demonstrate practical execution of these core brands, as reported by regional analysis from Gyeonggi Ilbo. These three pillars—fairness, innovation, … Read more