Nextrade expands stock trading

South Korea’s first alternative stock trading system, Nextrade, also known as NXT, has expanded its trading service to 110 stocks, following the smooth launch of its operations earlier this month. The system opened to the public on March 4, initially offering 10 different stocks for trading, and expanded to 110 on Monday. From the Kospi, newly listed stocks include Korean retail giant Shinsegae, energy-to-construction giant GS, top ramyeon maker Nongshim, Hyundai E&C and Samsung Securities. Newl

March 17, 2025

Korea-owned TaylorMade for sale, valued at $3.5b

Poised to be nation's largest sports M&A deal, TaylorMade sale draws global bidders TaylorMade, one of the most coveted names in golf, is up for sale. Under the ownership of Korean private equity firm Centroid Investment Partners, the brand’s valuation has more than doubled in just four years, reaching an estimated 5 trillion won ($3.5 billion). According to industry sources, Centroid aims to finalize the sale within this year, with Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds and top-tier global priva

March 6, 2025

Kakao Bank CEO wins fifth term, eyes global expansion

Yun Ho-young, 54, has been reappointed as CEO of Kakao Bank for a fifth term, reinforcing his leadership at South Korea’s leading internet-only lender, known for expanding its business beyond domestic borders, the company announced. On Tuesday, Kakao Bank, the banking arm of tech giant Kakao Corp., disclosed in a regulatory filing that its Executive Candidate Recommendation Committee had selected incumbent CEO Yun as the sole candidate for the position. His reappointment will be finalized at a s

March 5, 2025

Korea’s first alternative stock exchange goes live

Breaking Korea Exchange’s nearly 70-year monopoly, Nextrade offers extended trading hours, lower commission fees Nextrade, South Korea’s first alternative stock trading system, began operations on Tuesday, introducing a 12-hour trading system that extends beyond traditional market hours. The key advantages of trading on Nextrade include flexible trading hours and lower commission fees. However, a limited number of available stocks and low initial liquidity are cited as potential drawbacks. “We w

March 4, 2025

Korean banks face ELS sales restrictions after $3.2b misselling crisis

Only 5-10% of bank branches to sell ELS as regulator tightens consumer protections Only a limited number of bank branches will be permitted to sell equity-linked securities, following last year's misselling crisis linked to the main Hong Kong stock index, which resulted in 4.6 trillion won ($3.2 billion) in losses for local investors, the country's top financial regulator announced Wednesday. The Financial Services Commission stated that only bank branches equipped with safety measures will be a

Feb. 26, 2025

BOK cuts key rate as growth prospects dim

Central bank slashes 2025 growth outlook to 1.5%, pricing in Trump’s tariff threats The Bank of Korea delivered a 0.25 percentage point rate cut Tuesday to spur the economy, while slashing its gross domestic product growth forecast for this year to 1.5 percent, citing increasing trade risks. The BOK’s monetary policy board cut the policy rate to 2.75 percent, putting the base rate in the 2 percent range for the first time in over two years. “Though the tension in the forex market remains, the gr

Feb. 25, 2025

BOK lowers base rate by 0.25%p

The Bank of Korea reduced the base rate by 0.25 percentage point Tuesday to spur the country’s sluggish economy. The BOK’s monetary policy board slashed the policy rate by 0.25 percentage point to 2.75 percent, putting the base rate in the 2 percent range for the first time in over two years. The board exercised the cut to boost the slow economy, which has been daunted by domestic and global political uncertainties. Over the past months, the country’s domestic consumption has remained weak due t

Feb. 25, 2025

Regulator warns Apple Pay against shifting fee burden to consumers

Short selling ban to end next month as global institutions push for market reforms As Apple Pay, currently available exclusively through Hyundai Card in South Korea, prepares to expand its reach, the head of the country’s top financial regulator emphasized that the burden of payment commission fees should not fall on consumers. "The authorities cannot intervene in how Apple and card issuers determine payment commissions. However, shifting the burden onto stores and consumers would be inappropria

Feb. 24, 2025