Economy

Culture & Trends S.Korea’s medical tourism thrives on weak currency

Foreign visitors to South Korea jumped nearly 20% early this year, largely driven by a sharp depreciation in the country’s currency value agai...

Asset management South Korea’s young rich vs old rich: Coins, art outpace bonds, funds

Young South Korean millionaires, placing bold wagers on unconventional financial assets such as cryptocurrencies and art, are gaining ground fast, g...

Business & Politics S.Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol ousted; new presidential election coming

South Korea’s Constitutional Court permanently removed President Yoon Suk Yeol from office on Friday, making him the country’s second pr...

Business & Politics Woori Financial CEO Yim Jong-yong should stay for governance: FSS chief

Woori Financial Group Chief Executive and Chairman Yim Jong-yong should keep his post through to the end of his term and lead the banking group&rsqu...

Economy S.Korea’s economy grows 2.0% in 2024; Q4 GDP below forecast

South Korea’s economy expanded 2.0% last year, falling short of the central bank’s forecast on weaker-than-expected growth in the fourth...

Banking & Finance Hana Financial, Bain Capital to expand investment in S.Korea

South Korean Hana Financial Group and the US-based global well-known private equity fund (PEF) Bain Capital plan to strengthen their strategic par...

Economy Political crisis ups downside risk to S.Korea’s economy: S&P, Moody’s

Global credit rating agencies are warning of looming downward pressure on South Korea’s sovereign credit rating about a month after Asia&rsquo...

Economy Foreign direct investments in Korea hit record $34.57 billion in 2024

Foreign direct investments in South Korea hit a record high in 2024, driven by Chinese and Japanese investors in the manufacturing sector, the Minis...

Foreign exchange South Korea’s forex reserves drop to 5-year low in 2024

South Korea’s foreign exchange reserves shrank to a five-year low at the end of last year after the country’s foreign exchange authoriti...

Economy South Korea jumps to world’s No. 6 exporter; 2025 outlook dims

South Korea has sharply narrowed the gap in export value with Japan to a record low of $20.2 billion so far this year. But the country’s expor...

Business & Politics Korea’s new acting president assures economy resilient, security tight

South Korea’s new Acting President Choi Sang-mok said on Friday he is confident that the country’s economy is resilient and its national...

Business & Politics South Korea’s Acting President Han impeached; Stocks, won plummet

Han Duck-soo, South Korea’s acting president and prime minister, was impeached in Parliament on Friday amid a deepening political crisis batte...

Central bank S.Korea’s c.bank chief sees limited impact of political turmoil on economy

South Korea’s central bank chief said on Wednesday the impact of political turmoil caused by martial law on Asia’s fourth-largest econom...

Business & Politics South Korea’s sovereign credit rating stable: S&P, Moody's, Fitch

South Korea’s sovereign ratings remain stable despite the political turmoil caused by the short-lived martial law declaration of President Yoo...

Automobiles Korea’s commercial vehicle sales tumble on economic slowdown

South Korea’s commercial vehicle sales are plunging on sluggish domestic demand amid a slowdown in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.Local s...

Economy Opposition-controlled Korean Parliament passes slashed $470 bn budget

South Korea's opposition-controlled National Assembly on Tuesday passed a government budget bill for 2025, slashed from the government's proposal am...

Economy South Korea’s economic system remains resilient: finance minister

The South Korean economy is solid, and the government will take “bold and swift’’ actions if needed to stabilize Asia’s four...

Economy S&P downplays martial law impact on S.Korean economy

Global credit rating agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) said on Thursday "the introduction and swift revocation of martial law in South Korea ...

Economy South Korea’s Economy Picks Up But Still Disappoints

South Korea’s economy was weaker than expected in the third quarter, weighed by lackluster exports, though it improved from the previous quart...

Economy Korea’s economy sees slower-than-expected rebound in Q3

South Korea’s economy rebounded slower than central bank expectations in the third quarter on sluggish exports, adding to predictions that the...

Cryptocurrencies Growing dollar-backed stablecoin trades may destabilize Korean economy

Trading in dollar-backed stablecoins, cryptocurrencies pegged to the US currency, in South Korea hit a record high amid complex and costly currency ...

Korean startups Two out of 5 CEOs hold negative views on Korean startup scene

Nearly half of South Korean startups hold negative views on the country’s startup ecosystem, citing the prolonged startup funding winter and t...

Economy South Korea’s exports grow for 11th straight month

South Korea’s exports expanded for an 11th straight month in August on solid demand for semiconductors, smartphones and other goods overseas.E...

Automobiles Slowing economy creates opportunity for S. Korean used car sellers

South Korea’s used car sellers hope to take advantage of the slowing economic growth at home and abroad to expand their market shares.Lotte Re...

Economy South Korea’s Economy Slowed Sharply in Second Quarter

South Korea’s economy slowed at a sharper-than-expected pace in the second quarter on sluggish private consumption and weak business investmen...

Economy S.Korea’s economy slows in Q2, but on growth course

South Korea’s economy unexpectedly slowed in the second quarter on softer private consumption and business investments, reinforcing expectatio...

Economy South Korea climbs to 20th on IMD national competitiveness list

South Korea’s national competitiveness ranking climbed eight notches to its highest-ever 20th thanks to a leap in the country’s business...

Economy S.Korea’s current account swings to deficit on higher dividend payouts

South Korea logged a current account deficit in April, ending a streak of surpluses for the past 11 months, on seasonal factors such as increased di...

Korean food Seaweed, dubbed ‘Korea’s black semiconductor,’ powers its economy

Dried seaweed, widely used to make kimbap, or seaweed-wrapped rice rolls, is often referred to as the “black semiconductor” in South Kor...

The KED View Japan’s heavy hand with Naver: Uneasy sign for market economy

Recent actions by the Japanese government and chief executives of LY Corp. and SoftBank Corp. are raising eyebrows, leading many to question whether...