Korea News
South Korea's 65-Plus Consumers Drive 143% Spending Surge, Reshaping Retail Landscape
South Korean consumers aged 65 and over grew their card spending 143% over six years, four times the national average, as rapid aging makes seniors the country's most dynamic consumer segment.
Jun 20, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaKorean Industries Face Mixed Fallout as US-Iran MOU Sends Oil to $70 and Reopens Hormuz
The US-Iran ceasefire signed June 18 is reshaping South Korea's industrial landscape: oil prices have dropped sharply from over $100 to around $70 per barrel, stranded Korean ships are set to return through the Hormuz Strait, and Hyundai sees a path to recovering its lost Middle East auto
Jun 20, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaKorea Auto Industry Hits Rare Triple Decline in May as Exports, Production, and Sales All Fall
Korea's auto industry recorded simultaneous declines in exports, domestic sales, and production in May 2026 โ a rare triple decline signaling multi-sector risk
Jun 20, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaKorea KOSPI Eyes 10,000 on Domestic Buying as Foreign Selling Hits โฉ120.9T; CPI Jumps to 26-Month High
Korea's KOSPI is pushing toward 10,000 points driven by domestic investors despite foreign net-selling of โฉ120.9 trillion year-to-date, while CPI hits a 26-month high of 3.1%
Jun 20, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaSouth Korea Ends Auto Tax Discount, Reverting Vehicle Purchase Tax to 5% from July
South Korea's government will not extend the 3.5% reduced auto individual consumption tax, letting it revert to 5% at end of June โ adding $500-$700 to mid-range vehicle costs and pressuring Hyundai and Kia domestic volumes in H2.
Jun 20, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaKRX Delays Pre-Market to 2027; China Opens Lithium Futures to Foreign Investors July 3
South Korea's KRX postponed its 7am pre-market launch to end-2027 while China's GFEX opens lithium carbonate futures to foreign investors from July 3, reshaping Asian market infrastructure and commodity access.
Jun 20, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaKT&G Earns Fourth Consecutive Global Innovation Ranking as HTP Patent Portfolio Matures
KT&G has been named to Lexis Nexis's Global 100 Innovative Companies list for the fourth consecutive year, validating its R&D diversification into reduced-risk tobacco and health supplement products
Jun 20, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaSeoul's Mokdong Opens โฉ30 Trillion Reconstruction Market as Construction Giants Battle for Contracts
Seoul's Mokdong district is opening a โฉ30 trillion reconstruction market as major construction companies launch aggressive bidding competitions for project awards
Jun 20, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaFed Silence Strategy and Seoul Seongsu Construction Bids Reflect Dual Korean Market Themes
Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Walsh has adopted a 'silence strategy' on rate guidance, maximising policy flexibility at the cost of market uncertainty
Jun 20, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaSouth Korea May PPI Hits 46-Month High at 8.5% as Middle East Oil Shock Reverberates
South Korea's May producer price index rose 8.5% year-on-year, the highest in approximately 46 months
Jun 20, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaKorean Banks Lead Tech Lending as Lotte Himart Eyes Small-Household Consumer Surge
KB Kookmin Bank and NH NongHyup Bank ranked 1st and 2nd in Korea's H2 2025 tech finance evaluation, improving SME lending access.
Jun 19, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaHD Hyundai Oil Bank Executive Arrested Over Oil Price Cartel Conspiracy Involving Korea's 4 Major Refiners
Seoul Central Court arrested an HD Hyundai Oil Bank executive over alleged oil price-fixing conspiracy among South Korea's four major refiners, with peer refiners facing expanded scrutiny
Jun 19, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaFed Holds Rates at 3.50-3.75% for Fourth Consecutive Meeting Under New Chair Kevin Wash, Signals Hawkish Shift
US Fed holds rates at 3.50-3.75% for the fourth consecutive FOMC meeting under new Chair Kevin Wash, effectively withdrawing 2026 rate cut forecasts as price stability takes priority
Jun 19, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaKOSPI Shatters 9000 for First Time, Doubling in Six Months on AI Chip Supercycle
KOSPI crossed 9000 for the first time in history on June 18, closing at 9063.84 (+2.25%), doubling from 4500 in January 2026 as SK Hynix and Samsung drive AI-fueled semiconductor supercycle.
Jun 19, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaHyundai Motor Securities Raises Hotel Shilla Target to KRW 70,000 on Duty-Free Profitability Surge
Hyundai Motor Securities upgraded Hotel Shilla's target price to KRW 70,000 as duty-free division achieves first operating profit in 7 quarters and Chinese tourist share recovers to 30%.
Jun 19, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaSouth Korea FSS Arrests 7 in 9.3 Billion KRW Front-Running Scheme Using Journalist Stock Articles
Korean financial regulator FSS sent 7 individuals to prosecutors for front-running using 'featured stock' articles
Jun 18, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaE-Mart No-Brand Turns 10 Amid Discount Drive While Korea Luxury Brands Raise Prices
E-Mart's No-Brand discount label celebrates 10th anniversary with customer discount event running until July 1
Jun 18, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaKorean Markets June 17: Top Traded Stocks, Key Economic Indicators, and Exchange Rate Summary
South Korean markets published top-traded stock volumes and key economic indicator data for June 17, providing a pre-Fed baseline ahead of Warsh's first rate decision
Jun 18, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaWarsh's First FOMC Faces Unexpected Rate Hike Pressure as Trump Wanted Cuts
Kevin Warsh's inaugural FOMC saw unexpected rate hike arguments emerge as AI investment inflation and Middle East energy pressures complicate Trump's rate-cut expectations
Jun 18, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaJapan April Machinery Orders Jump 8.7%; Hanyang Securities Reassures on Joongang Exposure
Japan April machinery orders rose 8.7% MoM to 1.0985T yen, sustaining capex recovery; Hanyang Securities confirms 87% of 84B won Joongang Group exposure recoverable this year
Jun 18, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaFord Expedition 5th Gen Launches in South Korea; FL Auto Korea Targets Premium SUV Segment
FL Auto Korea launched the 5th-generation Ford Expedition in South Korea, the first full redesign since 2021, based on the F-150 platform with 1,100+ hours of consumer research
Jun 18, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaSpaceX Surpasses Amazon to Become World's 5th Largest Company by Market Cap, Briefly Overtakes Microsoft
SpaceX's market capitalization surpassed Amazon's at approximately $2.74 trillion versus $2.66 trillion, making it the world's 5th largest company by market cap on its third trading day.
Jun 17, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaSouth Korea Distribution Forum: AI Reshaping Retail as Korea Import Expo 2026 Opens This Week
South Korea 14th Distribution Industry Forum highlighted AI role in consumer selection; Korea Import Expo 2026 opens at COEX June 23-25 as summer retail promotions launch
Jun 17, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaSouth Korean Biotechs Oscotec and SK Biopharma Target Global Licensing Deals at BioUSA 2026
South Korean biotechs Oscotec and SK Biopharma are attending BioUSA 2026 in San Diego targeting global technology licensing and pharma partnerships
Jun 17, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaKorea Export-Import Bank to Take Over 15% Venture Stakes as Policy Finance Expansion Takes Effect June 24
Korea Eximbank gains authority to own over 15% of SME and venture company shares and expand into VC funds from June 24, removing the prior loan-guarantee linkage requirement.
Jun 16, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaKorean Markets Daily Briefing: Top Trading Stocks and Key Economic Indicators for June 15, 2026
Chosun Ilbo's June 15, 2026 Korean market daily briefing covers top traded stocks, exchange rates, and key economic indicators amid BOJ rate hike uncertainty and US-Iran peace deal effects.
Jun 16, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaDoosan Enerbility Wins 530 Billion Won Oman Gas Power Plant Contract, Targets Further Middle East Growth
Doosan Enerbility and KWPE consortium secured a 530 billion won contract to build an 870MW gas combined-cycle power plant in Oman's Duqm Special Economic Zone.
Jun 16, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaKOSPI Circuit Breaker Fires as Youngpoong Faces Accounting Fraud Charges and Korean Savings Rates Hit 4%
The KOSPI surged sharply enough to trigger a buy-side circuit breaker (์ฌ์ด๋์นด), reflecting broad buying in Korean equities.
Jun 16, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaNikkei 225 Hits All-Time High Above 69,000 as US-Iran Peace Deal Triggers Historic Asian Risk Rally
Japan's Nikkei 225 surged over 3,500 points to an intraday all-time record above 69,000 driven by US-Iran peace deal news prompting broad Asian risk-on repositioning
Jun 16, 2026
๐ฐ๐ท South KoreaSeojin System KRW 300B Perpetual Bond Restructured After Vietnam Tax Issues Disrupt Anchor Investor Plan
Seojin System's KRW 300 billion perpetual bond restructured after Vietnam tax issues disrupted STIC Investment's anchor role, forcing a multi-fund PE consortium approach
Jun 15, 2026