September 28, 2021

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EDITOR'S PICKS

• Markets 
  

  Surging energy bills spark concerns of inflation

  　South Korea’s recent decision to raise electricity prices for the first time in nearly a decade and an expected price surge in home gas is likely to increase inflationary pressure, industry watchers said on September 26. 　Electricity and home gas prices, which are key components of “public utility charges” -- fees related to the supply of electricity, gas, power, water and transport -- usually help lower inflationary pressure, with their relatively flat price gains. But the C

• Markets 
  

  SC Bank Korea offers gold, gift certificates for dollar funds, savings accounts

  　Standard Chartered Korea on September 26 said it has recently launched a promotional event that offers prizes, including a 24-karat gold plated $2 bill, for customers who subscribe to dollar-denominated products for the first time. 　Customers will receive the chance to enter the sweepstake if they subscribe to any dollar-related products, including funds, money market funds, savings accounts and insurance. 　One first prize winner will receive a gold plate weighing 15 grams, while 10 second

• Markets 
  

  Parked money in search of new investments hits new high

  　The amount of parked money that can be withdrawn any time has surged to an all-time high, data showed September 26. 　According to the Bank of Korea, the amount of demand deposit increased by 3.3 trillion won ($2.8 billion) to some 388.7 trillion won as of July. It is the largest amount since the central bank started to collect related data. 　Market experts suggested that extra cash ready for new investments has few places to go because of the government’s intensifying regulatory moves o

• Markets 
  

  4 out of 10 Seoul apartments bought by 20s, 30s

  On the back of soaring housing prices, a growing number of South Koreans in their 20s and 30s have rushed to buy apartments, with nearly 4 out of 10 Seoul apartments being purchased by those young buyers, data showed Sept. 23. According to data from the Korea Real Estate Board, people in their 30s bought a total of 12,550 homes in the capital city between January and July, which accounted for 36.9 percent of the total 34,045 properties that changed hands in the given period. Those aged 20-29 or

• Markets 
  

  [ESG Talk] Overseeing critical ESG risks: Environmental issues

  As regulatory and stakeholder issues heighten around environmental, social and governance factors, companies must now oversee the associated risks more strategically. Unfortunately, ESG issues are sensitive to public choices, rely on future scenario-based materiality and require longer time horizons. Thus, the challenge in quantifying ESG risks has prompted companies to adopt different risk management procedures. Since ESG risks can turn to sizable negative impacts throughout a company’s

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  [Feature] How fans are turning favorite K-pop songs into investments

  K-pop fans have found a new way to support their favorite idols that could also fatten their wallets at the same time. A growing number of fans are experimenting with new investment methods by investing in shares of copyrights to songs by idols. This new combination of Korean culture and investing comes as K-pop fans seek alternative and meaningful ways to show support for their stars.  For instance, Music Cow, a platform for investing in K-pop songs, allows fans to buy shares to own par

• Markets 
  

  Eximbank to provide over $300m to Egypt for railway project

  　The Export-Import Bank of Korea said on September 23 it will offer more than $300 million in loans to the Egyptian government’s railway modernization project. 　The state-run policy lender plans to supply a combined $312.2 million for the African nation through the “Economic Development Cooperation Fund” as well as the “Economic Development Promotion Facility.” 　Launched in 1987, the EDCF is aimed at helping poor and less developed countries by providin

• Markets 
  

  Kakao Pay faces renewed scrutiny ahead of IPO

  　Ant Group-backed financial technology firm Kakao Pay is facing renewed scrutiny ahead of its upcoming initial public offering as South Korea’s tech crackdown shows no signs of abating. 　Regulators’ tightening grip on online financial platforms puts Kakao Pay, known for its mobile payment app interoperable with Korea’s popular messenger app KakaoTalk, under mounting pressure to revise its prospectus again to scale down its fintech service. 　The stock market debut of Kakao Pa