SEJONG -- The nation’s fiscal chief has expressed his willingness to enact drastic deregulations and introduce innovations into the financial services sector during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho said Friday that the government “would eliminate unnecessary and excessive regulations in the financial sector drastically, with the exception of (regulations) for financial soundness and protection of (financial) consumers.”

South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Friday, tracking overnight US gains, as tech shares made an upturn on bargain hunting. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 26.93 points, or 1.03 percent, to trade at 2,639.38 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, US stocks rallied on upbeat earnings forecast from major retailers. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.61 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite jumped 2.68 percent. In Seoul, large-cap shares gathered grou