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The Korea Herald

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Economy

Sept. 1, 2026
Leveraged ETF fallout stalls new market initiatives

Backlash over leveraged exchange-traded funds has the Financial Services Commission treading more cautiously on further capital market reforms, putting two planned market initiatives at risk of delay. The Korea Exchange’s fractional investment market, scheduled to open in November, is increasingly likely to be postponed, according to financial industry sources Tuesday. Nextrade’s plan to begin after-hours ETF trading this year has also stalled. Industry officials said the regulator is reassessin
Sept. 1, 2026
Korea plans record W821tr budget on chip tax windfall

South Korea will raise government spending by 12.8 percent to a record 820.9 trillion won ($599.5 billion) in 2027, the fastest increase on record, as surging tax revenue gives Seoul room to expand investment in artificial intelligence, strategic industries and social programs. Under the government's medium-term fiscal plan, annual spending is projected to surpass 1,000 trillion won for the first time in 2030, reaching 1,005.2 trillion won, while national debt rises to 1,734.1 trillion won. The
Aug. 31, 2026
Korea, Japan business groups deepen supply chain ties

Leading business groups from South Korea and Japan agreed Monday to deepen cooperation in supply chains, energy security and emerging industries, as Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Chey Tae-won called for broader economic integration between the neighboring countries. The KCCI and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry held their 15th leaders’ meeting at the Westin Sendai in northeastern Japan under the theme “The Korea-Japan Future Starts in the Regions.” Chey, who also chai
Aug. 30, 2026
Veteran technocrat tapped as finance minister

South Korea’s First Vice Finance Minister Lee Hyung-il was nominated Sunday as deputy prime minister and minister of finance and economy, placing a veteran technocrat with deep experience in macroeconomic policy at the helm of the country’s economy. Born in Daegu in 1971, Lee studied economics at Seoul National University and earned a doctorate from Texas A&M University. He entered public service in 1993 after passing the national civil service examination. At the Finance Ministry, Lee held key
Aug. 27, 2026
BOK delivers 'preemptive' back-to-back hikes

The Bank of Korea on Thursday raised its benchmark interest rate for a second consecutive meeting, tightening monetary policy amid persistent inflationary pressures as chip-led growth outweighed expectations. The Monetary Policy Board lifted the rate by 0.25 percentage point to 3 percent, following an increase of the same size in July. The decision was backed by six of the seven board members, with only one-member dissenting. The hawkish decision puts the base rate back to the 3 percent range fo
Aug. 27, 2026
Why soaring US long-term yields are becoming Korea’s problem

A surge in long-term US Treasury yields is driving up borrowing costs in Korea, lifting government bond yields and adding pressure on companies, households and stocks. The spillover was on full display last week. As the US 30-year yield climbed to 5.33 percent, its highest since 2007, Korea’s 30-year government bond yield surged to a record 4.751 percent. The yields have since retreated, but the underlying pressures — heavy US debt issuance, aggressive AI-related borrowing and weakening demand f
Aug. 27, 2026
Mirae Asset chief says investment, not dividends, builds winners

Mirae Asset Financial Group Chairman Park Hyeon-joo rejects criticism that disappointing shareholder returns are weighing on Samsung Electronics and SK hynix shares, arguing that investment and corporate fundamentals matter more. “Saying a stock falls because the company does not pay enough dividends is a weak argument,” Park said Wednesday at a dinner with employees of Digital X, formerly Korbit, Korea’s first cryptocurrency exchange acquired and renamed by Mirae Asset Securities in July. “What
Aug. 27, 2026
BOK raises rate to 3%, lifts growth forecast

The Bank of Korea on Thursday raised its benchmark interest rate for a second consecutive meeting, pressing ahead with monetary tightening amid persistent inflationary pressures. The Monetary Policy Board lifted the rate by 0.25 percentage point to 3 percent, following an increase of the same size in July. Thursday’s decision came amid strong inflationary pressure fueled by rising incomes from the semiconductor boom. Real gross domestic product grew 0.6 percent in the second quarter from the pre
Aug. 26, 2026
Could Samsung, SK hynix payouts lift the won?

The won’s recent rally could gain momentum from Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, as their record shareholder returns are expected to trigger billions of dollars in currency conversions. Earlier this month, the Korean won broke into the 1,300-per-dollar range for the first time since October. While the won has been hovering around the 1,370-1,380 per dollar range in recent sessions, analysts said the currency could strengthen further, supported by the large shareholder return initiatives. The co
Aug. 25, 2026
BOK faces close call on back-to-back rate hikes

The Bank of Korea is set to hold its next rate-setting meeting Thursday, with markets split over whether the central bank will deliver another rate hike or pause, a decision that could offer clues on the pace and extent of its current tightening cycle. The BOK raised its benchmark rate by 0.25 percentage point to 2.75 percent in July, marking its first rate hike in over three years since January 2023. Markets are now watching whether the central bank will deliver a back-to-back rate hike. Follow

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EDITOR'S PICKS

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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