Most Popular
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Hybe-Ador feud should have limited effect on Hybe's overall performance: analysts
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First-ever meeting of president, opposition chief set to finally happen
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Blinken calls on China to press N. Korea to end its 'dangerous' behavior
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Experts raise concerns about Japan putting pressure on Naver over Line
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South Korea to launch space security center under spy agency
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More med professors to take day off each week while govt. urges them to stay
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Hybe refutes Ador CEO Min's denial of breach of trust
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S. Korea, Japan could consider simplified entry agreement: Seoul official
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Legoland Korea Resort to open until 9 p.m.
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[Weekender] How DDP emerged as an icon of Seoul
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BOK freezes rate at 3.5% as inflation wanes
The Bank of Korea kept its key interest rate unchanged at 3.5 percent Thursday, opting for a third consecutive freeze as inflation has been showing signs of easing off in Korea in recent months. Korea’s base rate has stayed at 3.5 percent since February, when the central bank first froze the rate after more than a year of rate hikes to tamp down soaring prices. “The BOK decided to keep the rate unchanged as it is appropriate to maintain the monetary tightening stance, with the inflat
May 25, 2023
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Over 120 trading firms gather for KITA-Taiwan conference
The Korea International Trade Association held a joint conference with the Taiwan External Trade Development Council and Taiwan Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday to discuss ways to boost trade between South Korean and Taiwanese companies. A total of 122 companies, including 27 Korean and 95 Taiwanese companies, participated in the event, called the Korea-Taiwan Import and Export Conference held at the Taipei International Convention Center in the capital of Taiwan. A total of 207 consultations we
May 24, 2023
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S. Korea vows to partner with World Bank to share expertise with developing nations
South Korea wishes to expand cooperation with the World Bank by sharing its expertise in the climate and digital sectors, the finance minister said Wednesday. "Korea's expertise in the climate and digital sectors can help developing countries against the challenges they face," Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho said during an event marking the 10th anniversary of the bank's office in South Korea. "I believe Korea's resources in these areas can help the Korea Office beco
May 24, 2023
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Natl. pension reports worst returns in 2022 amid global jitters: data
South Korea's state pension operator saw its returns fall to a record low level in 2022, data showed Tuesday, due to the instability in the global financial market amid monetary tightening moves. The National Pension Service logged negative returns of 8.28 percent in 2022, marking the lowest level since it was launched in 1988, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. "(The negative returns) were affected by the jitters in the global financial market sparked by the US rate hik
May 23, 2023
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Inflation expectations at 1-year low in May
South Korea's inflation expectations fell to the lowest in a year in May on a slide in prices of petrochemical goods, a central bank survey showed Tuesday. Ordinary people expected consumer prices to rise 3.7 percent for the year ahead, down 0.2 percentage point from what was surveyed a month earlier, according to the poll conducted by the Bank of Korea. The reading marks the lowest since May last year, when the comparable figure was 3.3 percent, the central bank said. The downturn came as
May 23, 2023
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Gov’t to enhance public energy firms’ financial status by raising rates next year: minister
South Korea’s finance minister said Monday the government will improve the financial status of debt-laden public energy companies by raising rates to an acceptable level next year. Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho made the remarks at a meeting of the National Assembly’s Strategy and Finance Committee. “It will take time for public energy companies to retrieve accounts receivable and make a turnaround. Experts expect Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) to swing to an operating pr
May 22, 2023
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Energy bills soar 30% in Q1, most since 1998 financial crisis
The inflation index of utility bills for households -- including electricity and gas -- spiked by more than 30 percent in the first three months of 2023, marking the highest on-year increase since the 1998 financial crisis. The increase in utility prices for electricity, gas and other fuels converted into the inflation index logged 135.49 points in the first quarter of 2023, up 30.5 percent from the same period last year, according to the Korea Statistical Information Service on Monday. This mar
May 22, 2023
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S. Korea's trade balance expected to improve after May: finance minister
South Korea's finance minister said Monday the country's trade balance could improve after May and he expects a gradual recovery of tax revenue down the road as well. "After May, South Korea's trade deficit will decrease, and we can anticipate a completely different performance in the fourth quarter," Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho told lawmakers during a parliamentary session. The remark came after South Korea's exports fell 16.1 percent on-year in the first 20 day
May 22, 2023
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Exports down 16.1% during first 20 days of May
South Korea's exports fell 16.1 percent on-year in the first 20 days of May due to a prolonged slump in the global chip industry, data showed Monday, with the country's outbound shipments set to lose ground for seven consecutive months. The country's outbound shipments stood at $32.4 billion in the May 1-20 period, compared with $38.6 billion a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. Imports shed 15.3 percent on-year to $36.7 billion during the cited period, resulting
May 22, 2023
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How rich is the top 1% in Korea?
People in South Korea's top 1 percent net asset bracket had at least around 3 billion won ($2.26 million) in net assets in 2021, according to a local insurance firm’s report, Sunday. Net assets refer to the value of a person’s assets such as houses, cars, investments and cash, minus liabilities. According to Hanwha Life Insurance, individuals who had more than 2.9 billion won in net assets sat in the top 1 percent net asset bracket, while the threshold for the 0.1 percent bracke
May 21, 2023
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[KH Explains] BOK may opt for another rate freeze
The Bank of Korea is likely to maintain the current base interest rate at its next rate-setting meeting on Thursday, going for a third consecutive rate freeze amid waning inflation and a sluggish economy. The market expects the central bank to maintain the key rate at 3.5 percent, following two previous rate freezes in February and April. Inflation has been coming down in Korea. The consumer price index, a barometer of inflation, showed a 3.7 percent on-year increase in April, falling into the 3
May 21, 2023
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Finance minister discusses bilateral ties with Chinese envoy
Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho met with Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming on Friday to discuss economic ties and other bilateral issues, his office said. During the meeting, Choo expressed hope that South Korea and China can continue economic cooperation based on mutual respect and interests, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The finance minister also requested China's support for the preparation of the bilateral economic ministerial meeting scheduled to be held
May 19, 2023
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Korea bets on potential of advanced display technologies
The South Korean government is seeking to push the growth of cutting-edge display technologies, providing aggressive support such as hefty tax cuts and deregulation. “Displays will be designated as a national advanced strategic technology to encourage private investments, ensuring a stable supply network while supporting policy financing, research and development, and training,” Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho said at a governmental meeting held in central Seoul on Wednesday. He added
May 17, 2023
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S. Korea to up seafood exports to $4.5b by 2027
South Korea will penetrate deeper into the global seafood market with the goal of exporting $4.5 billion worth of goods in the sector by 2027, the oceans ministry said Wednesday. The amount represents around a 50 percent rise from a record high of $3.15 billion tallied in 2022, on the back of the global popularity of "gim" and abalone, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Gim, or dried seaweed, is usually roasted with sesame oil and fine salt, and served as a side dish in
May 17, 2023
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Closer ties with US, Japan key to geo-economic challenges
South Korea needs to strengthen its trilateral alliance with the United States and Japan in trade and investment to overcome global geo-economic challenges and supply chain disruptions triggered by COVID-19, said Jun Kwang-woo, chairman of the Institute for Global Economics. The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have increasingly polarized the world economy, which centers around the US and China. This caused a shift in the global economic paradigm, leading to closer links between nati
May 16, 2023
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Electricity bills to rise by 5.3% as Kepco battles mounting losses
Electricity rates and gas prices in South Korea will increase by 5.3 percent from Tuesday, to ease the financial burden of cash-strapped state-run energy companies. The electricity rate will go up by 8 won ($0.006) per kilowatt-hour and the gas rate by 1.04 won per megajoule, the government announced Monday. The hiked rates take effect from Tuesday, but will not be applied retroactively. This means that a four-person household that uses an average amount of electricity and gas will have to pay
May 15, 2023
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Container freight rates for major destinations fall on-month in April
Outbound container shipping costs for major destinations, including the US west coast and the European Union, slipped in April from a month earlier, data showed Monday. The average rate for a 40-foot container from Asia's fourth-largest economy to the US west coast reached 4.84 million won ($3,610) last month, down 5.3 percent from March, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. Compared with the previous year, the cost was down 64.4 percent. The data is based on freight rates
May 15, 2023
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S. Korea to hike Q2 electricity, gas rates on high costs, losses
South Korea will raise second-quarter electricity rates and gas prices on high global energy costs and mounting losses of the state utility companies, the industry ministry said Monday. The government will jack up the electricity rates for consumer and industrial use by 8 won ($0.01) per kilowatt hour for the April-June period, compared with a 13.1 won increase per kWh in the first quarter of this year, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The fee hike is estimated to cost a
May 15, 2023
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Jobs for 40-somethings fall for 10th month amid manufacturing slump
The number of jobs for people in their 40s in South Korea decreased for the 10th consecutive month in April, data showed Sunday, amid the protracted slump in the country's manufacturing industry. Jobs for the age group have been falling on-year since July, with the positions decreasing 22,000 from a year earlier in April, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea. South Korea added 816,000 jobs annually in 2022, with the addition maintaining growth through April on the back of the
May 14, 2023
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Choo highlights role of MDBs in tackling poverty in developing nations
South Korean Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho emphasized the importance of multilateral development banks' role in tackling poverty in developing nations at a Group of Seven ministerial meeting, the ministry said Saturday. Choo made the remark during a session at the G-7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' Meeting in Niigata, northwest of Tokyo, which closed Saturday after a three-day run, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Asia's No. 4 economy participate
May 13, 2023