FSS chief vows to normalize PF, stock short sales in his final year

Lee Bok-hyun, head of South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service, reaffirmed his commitment to resolving ongoing issues, including real estate project financing risks and overhauling the short-selling system, and pledged to accelerate the digitization of finance during the remainder of his term. "Reflecting on the past two years, despite the challenges posed by rising inflation and interest rates, I believe we worked tirelessly to achieve stable financial conditions and foster compas

June 4, 2024

Korea cements ties with African nations in key mineral supply chains

South Korea and African nations have pledged to intensify cooperation for enhanced trading while supporting Africa's path for shaping a future of sustainable co-prosperity. The 2024 South Korea-Africa Summit, the inaugural summit between Korea and 48 African countries, kicked off in Seoul on Tuesday. “Africa is young, dynamic and affluent with resources while Korea has high technology and a variety of experience… We will bring the strengths of each other together and discov

June 4, 2024

[KH Explains] Has South Korea really struck oil?

The South Korean government is making headlines with claims of potentially substantial oil and natural gas reserves discovered off its southeastern coast, near Pohang's Yeongil Bay. If confirmed, this discovery could elevate Korea’s status as an oil-producing nation. However, transitioning from finding these reserves to harnessing them is a complex journey. Here, we address the key questions surrounding this development.   What is the basis of the government's claim? In February 2023,

June 4, 2024

S. Korea to extend tax reduction for imported fruits, food materials

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok said Tuesday the government will extend tariff reduction on fruit imports and introduce the lower-tariff scheme for food materials in an effort to curb inflation. The government has applied the tax reduction through the tariff-rate quota on imports of 28 kinds of fruits, including bananas, pineapples, mangoes and cherries, which was supposed to end by end-June. But it decided to extend the measure through the end of 2024, Choi said, presiding over a prices-related

June 4, 2024

Govt. to extend tax incentives, tailored support for SMEs' scale-up

The government will extend greater tax benefits and tailored support to smaller companies to help them become second-tier midsized firms in an effort to create quality jobs and spur growth momentum, the finance ministry said Monday. A set of such supportive measures were presented during an economic ministers' meeting presided over by Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, which also called for extending an additional 7 trillion won ($5.07 billion) of funding to exporters. "A smaller number o

June 3, 2024

Korean builders bet big on Rwanda’s fast-growing economy

Some liken Rwanda to the “Singapore of Africa” due to its fast-growing economy and strategic focus on fintech. South Korean builders and financial firms are also eyeing their expansion in the burgeoning market, pinning high hopes on the upcoming Korea-Africa summit talks in Seoul. Since establishing official diplomatic ties in 1963, Korea and Rwanda have continued elevating their economic partnership. In 2023, Korea’s exports to Rwanda stood at $17.27 million, mainly consisting

June 2, 2024

Household loans from 5 major banks expand for 2nd consecutive month in May

Household loans extended by five major lenders in South Korea rose for the second straight month in May on a rise in mortgage and credit loans, industry data showed Sunday. Household loans extended by the five top lenders added 4.7 trillion won ($3.39 billion) from a month earlier to 702.7 trillion won as of end-May, according to data compiled by Yonhap News Agency. It marked the second consecutive on-month growth from 4.4 trillion won in April, following a 2.2 trillion-won drop in March. The ga

June 2, 2024

Exports extend gains to 8th straight month in May

South Korea's exports extended on-year gains to the eighth straight month in May on the back of strong shipments of semiconductors, data showed Saturday. Outbound shipments rose 11.7 percent on-year to $58.1 billion last month, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Imports shed 2 percent on-year to $53.1 billion last month, resulting in a trade surplus of $4.96 billion. South Korea has been maintaining a trade surplus for 12 consecutive months. It was

June 1, 2024

NPS targets 5.4% return from fund operations over next 5 years

The government has set a target return rate of 5.4 percent for the National Pension Service fund operations over the next five years. On Friday, the NPS announced that its Fund Management Committee had approved the midterm asset allocation plan for the 2025-2029 period, establishing a target return rate of 5.4 percent. In accordance with the committee's decision earlier this month to increase the long-term allocation of investments in high-risk assets to 65 percent, the target asset proport

May 31, 2024

91,000 homes foreign-owned, mostly by Chinese

The number of homes owned by foreign nationals came to 91,453 in December 2023, with 55 percent of them belonging to Chinese nationals, government data showed Friday. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport released a report on foreign-owned real estate assets, which showed that 0.48 percent of all homes in the country are owned by non-South Koreans. The number of foreign-owned homes rose 4.8 percent compared to the previous report released six months ago, with 4,230 additional homes

May 31, 2024

Finance minister hints at tax incentives for local firms

The South Korean government is ramping up discussions on specific tax incentives aimed at enhancing the market value of local companies, with plans to conduct public hearings over the next two months. "We talked about tax incentives for the Value-up Program on several occasions. But now is the time for us to discuss more specific plans," Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok told reporters on Monday. "Throughout June and July, we will host public hearings to del

May 28, 2024

S. Korean biz leaders meet with UAE president

Leaders of major South Korean conglomerates met with United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Tuesday in search of ways to deepen business cooperation in defense and energy areas with the oil-rich Middle East state, on the occasion of the UAE leader’s first state visit to Korea. Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun, Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan, HD Hyundai Vice Chairman C

May 28, 2024

Biz leaders of S. Korea, UAE discuss enhancing bilateral economic, biz partnership

Business leaders of South Korea and the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday discussed ways to enhance economic cooperation and develop business partnerships in new industries, such as clean energy and ICT, a major business lobby here said. The Korea-UAE Business Investment Forum, held in Seoul during the state visit of UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, brought together around 200 government officials and business leaders, including South Korean Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo and UAE Minister

May 28, 2024

S. Korea’s finance chief in talks for China visit

South Korean Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok said Monday that he is in talks for bilateral meetings with his Japanese and Chinese counterparts following this week’s trilateral summit of the three countries in Seoul. “Upon the invitation from the Chinese government, we are discussing detailed schedules for a possible visit to China. I expect to discuss diverse issues, including supply chains,” the nation’s top policymaker said at a press conference

May 27, 2024

S. Korea's exports set to maintain growth in May: trade minister

South Korea is expected to maintain growth in exports for May amid robust performances in chips and automobiles, the trade minister said Monday. The remark came after exports expanded 13.8 percent year-on-year to $56.2 billion in April, the seventh consecutive monthly gain, driven by strong demand for semiconductors and vehicles. "Exports have been expanding across most regions, including the United States, China and the ASEAN bloc," Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo said during a governmen

May 27, 2024

[Africa Forum] Korea, Africa could be next key players in supply chain: K-SURE chief

The head of Korea Trade Insurance Corporation, the state-run export credit agency, vowed to support Korea and African nations in becoming key pillars of the future supply chain. “Africa is home to essential mineral resources critical to future high-tech industries such as semiconductors and secondary batteries,” Jang Young-jin, chairperson and president of K-SURE in his keynote speech during the Africa Day Business Forum co-hosted by The Korea Herald and the African Group of Ambassad

May 26, 2024

[Africa Forum] Trade minister calls for elevating economic ties with Africa

The South Korean trade minister stressed the need to diversify economic relations with African nations into high-tech and service sectors by taking the upcoming Korea-Africa Summit as a chance to pave the way for a new era. “Now is the time for Korea to actively engage in trade and investment with Africa,” Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo said Thursday while delivering his celebratory speech at the Africa Day Business Forum co-hosted by The Korea Herald and the African Group of Ambassado

May 26, 2024

BOK holds rate at 3.5%, ups growth outlook

The Bank of Korea held the base policy rate at 3.5 percent for the 11th consecutive time Thursday, while raising the country’s economic growth estimate from the previous 2.1 percent to 2.5 percent. The central bank’s monetary policy board unanimously agreed to keep the key rate at the current level, BOK Gov. Rhee Chang-yong said at a press conference held shortly after the rate-setting decision. “With the strengthened upward pressure on the inflation outlook from April, it will

May 23, 2024

Ex-US Speaker McCarthy meets with S. Korean business leaders

Former US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy met with South Korean business leaders on Thursday to exchange views on economic and trade issues between the two countries months before the upcoming US presidential election, a local business lobby said. McCarthy had a breakfast meeting in Seoul with some 20 Korean businesspeople, including representatives from Hyundai Motor Co., SK Group, LG Group and Hanwha Group, arranged by the Federation of Korean Industries. During the event, the participants discus

May 23, 2024

[Herald Interview] Korea inspires other donors for development funding: World Bank vice president

Akihiko Nishio, the World Bank’s vice president for development finance, said Korea becoming the host country for the International Development Association's 21st replenishment meeting could uplift the spirit of contribution to the global solidarity fund. The International Development Association, a development finance institution under the multilateral lender World Bank Group, seeks to help the world’s poorest countries improve by providing loans and grants. On Monday, the Wo

May 21, 2024