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The Korea Herald

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Oct. 16, 2026
Korean regulators face scrutiny as stock market volatility persists

As South Korea's stock market continues to swing sharply between steep losses and strong gains, questions are mounting over the effectiveness of financial authorities' response. The Kospi, which plunged more than 7 percent on Thursday, edged up around 1 percent in early trading Friday. The benchmark index closed at 5,668.05, up 2.05 percent from the previous session, after opening at 5,653.99, up 1.8 percent. Meanwhile, the Kosdaq surged as much as 5 percent intraday, triggering a buy-side sidec
Oct. 16, 2026
Korean banks plan security spending increases after data breaches

South Korea's biggest banks are preparing to boost security spending following a wave of data breaches, with Shinhan Bank and Woori Bank reversing course after cutting this year's budgets by double digits. The attacks exposed customer information through systems used by employees and loan agents, as even banks that had increased their security budgets suffered breaches. Shinhan earmarked 40.59 billion won ($30.4 million) for information security this year, the least among the five major lenders
Oct. 16, 2026
Korea's manufacturing jobs rise for first time in 27 months

South Korea's manufacturing employment rose for the first time in 27 months in September despite a slowdown in overall job growth, government data showed Friday. Manufacturers employed 4.36 million people last month, up 16,000 from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics. The increase was the first since June 2024, ending 26 consecutive months of job losses. The sector had shed 38,000 jobs in August and 68,000 in July. "Employment fell in automobiles and textiles, but in
Oct. 15, 2026
Kospi crashes 8% as Samsung, SK hynix sink over 10%

South Korean stocks plunged Thursday as a technology-led sell-off sent Samsung Electronics and SK hynix down more than 10 percent, triggering circuit breakers on both the Kospi and Kosdaq. The benchmark Kospi tumbled 8.13 percent to 5,515.76 as of 1:17 p.m., after opening 5.59 percent lower and extending losses throughout the session. The sharp decline triggered a sell-sidecar at 9:07 a.m., temporarily suspending sell orders in index futures-linked program trading. A circuit breaker followed at
Oct. 15, 2026
Beyond firewalls: Singapore's cyber playbook for Korean banks

SINGAPORE — Singapore's cybersecurity chief called for continuous monitoring and closer cooperation between governments and businesses Thursday, offering insights as South Korea confronts a series of cyber intrusions targeting financial institutions. Gwenda Fong, chief executive of Singapore's Cyber Security Agency, said organizations must move beyond a "compliance-based mindset" centered on periodic security checks, particularly as artificial intelligence enables hackers to exploit vulnerabilit
Oct. 15, 2026
Samsung's top brass convene in Tokyo as Japan chip ties deepen

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong reportedly met with five top executives in Tokyo this week, fueling speculation over the company's semiconductor strategy in Japan and broader business priorities. According to industry sources Thursday, the executives traveled to Tokyo on Tuesday to meet Lee, who was already in Japan. The group included Vice Chairman Chung Hyun-ho, a longtime confidant of Lee; Park Hark-kyu, head of Samsung's business support office; Jun Young-hyun, head of the Device S
Oct. 15, 2026
Trump doubles down on $50b Korean investment claim for Alaska LNG ahead of midterms

US President Donald Trump has again asserted South Korea pledged $50 billion to a massive liquefied natural gas project in Alaska, despite Seoul's insistence that no final investment decision has been made, as he touts foreign investment ahead of next month’s midterm elections. In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump said he had launched the Alaska LNG project, describing it as the largest energy infrastructure project in the state’s history. "This 50 billion dollar infrastructure investme
Oct. 14, 2026
LG, Apple take on Amazon, Google with AI home devices

LG Electronics is teaming up with Apple to take on Amazon and Google in the smart home market, unveiling seven AI-powered devices that push beyond its traditional appliance business. The Korean electronics-maker introduced the jointly developed lineup at a launch event in New York on Tuesday, including an indoor camera, two outdoor cameras, a video doorbell, a smart lock, a thermostat and a temperature sensor. The devices will carry the LG brand, with LG handling manufacturing, sales and custome
Oct. 14, 2026
Kurly revisits IPO as profits improve, Naver backing grows

Online Korean grocery platform Kurly is reviving plans for an initial public offering as improving profitability and a partnership with Naver strengthen its valuation prospects, potentially opening an exit route for long-standing investors. According to market sources Wednesday, Kurly has been holding regular discussions with its IPO underwriters — Korea Investment & Securities, NH Investment & Securities and JPMorgan — over a possible listing. "We continue to hold regular meetings with our unde
Oct. 14, 2026
Korea's GDP per capita to top $40,000 this year, IMF says

South Korea's gross domestic product per capita is projected to exceed $40,000 for the first time this year, according to the International Monetary Fund, which also sharply lowered its forecasts for the country's government debt burden. The IMF's October World Economic Outlook database puts Korea's GDP per capita at $43,512 this year, up 19.5 percent from an estimated $36,408 in 2025. The forecast brings the milestone forward by two years from the fund's April projections, which placed this yea

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Herald Corporation |CEO : Choi Jin-Young |Huam-ro 4-gil 10, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea |Title : The Investor |Date of registration : 2016.06.21 |Date of issue : 2016.06.21
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