KOSPI Surge Raises Concerns for Inverse ETFs as Prices Plummet ◆Major News from Ajou Economics ▷"If KOSPI Hits 12,000, Will Inverse ETFs Drop to Zero?"... Inverse ETFs Face Delisting Risk Amid KOSPI Rally - According to the Korea Exchange on May 13, prices of KOSPI 200 leveraged ETFs, including KODEX 200 Futures Inverse 2X, TIGER 200 Futures Inverse 2X, RISE 200 Futures Inverse 2X, and KIWOOM 200 Futures Inverse 2X, have all fallen to the 100 won range. Only PLUS 200 Futures Inverse 2X remains above 200 won. - Following KOSPI's historic breach of 7,00 May 14, 2026

Korean Economy Expected to Improve Amid Semiconductor Boom The Bank of Korea will hold a monetary policy meeting on May 28 to announce its revised economic outlook. This will be the first forecast since the economy exceeded expectations in the first quarter, drawing significant attention. With a clear structural improvement in the semiconductor sector, there is keen interest in how much the Bank will raise its annual economic growth forecast for this year. According to the Bank of Korea, the initial forecast for the first quarter's real GDP growt May 14, 2026

Search Continues for Missing Woman in Bukhansan National Park A search is underway for a woman in her 50s who has been missing for nearly a month after hiking in Bukhansan National Park. According to Yonhap News on May 13, the Songpa Police Station in Seoul received a report on April 17 at 11:28 a.m. stating, "I think my wife is missing," and has been searching for Kim, 52, since then. Kim's husband reported that he received a call from her workplace around 9 a.m. on the day she went missing, informing him that she had not shown up for work. After May 14, 2026

President Lee to Meet Nobel Laureate Peter Howitt on May 15 President Lee Jae-myung will meet with Peter Howitt, the Nobel Prize-winning economist from Brown University, on May 15. Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Yoo-jung announced in a written briefing on May 13 that President Lee will host Professor Howitt at the Blue House on the morning of May 15.Kang described Howitt as a leading scholar who has theoretically established that innovation is the key driver of economic growth. She noted that President Lee intends to hear Professor Howitt's insights o May 14, 2026

U.S. and South Korea Hold 28th Integrated Defense Consultative Meeting The South Korean Ministry of National Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense announced on May 14 that they held the 28th Integrated Defense Consultative Meeting (KIDD) in Washington, D.C., on May 12 and 13. The meeting was attended by Hong Chul, Director of Defense Policy, and John Nod, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, along with James Finch, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asia, who served as the chief representatives from both May 14, 2026

Netanyahu Secretly Visits UAE, Marks Historic Breakthrough in Relations Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on May 14, during a time of conflict with Iran, according to the Israeli Prime Minister's Office. The office stated that Netanyahu met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, during his covert trip, which occurred amid the ongoing "Lion's Roar" military operation. This visit is seen as a significant breakthrough in the relationship between Israel and the UAE. May 14, 2026

Corporate Loans Surge by 21 Trillion Won This Year, Testing Bank Stability As of April this year, the outstanding balance of corporate loans at South Korea's five major banks has increased by over 21 trillion won, nearing last year's total annual increase. This surge is attributed to the government's tightening of household loan regulations and a push for productive finance, prompting banks to significantly increase their corporate loan portfolios. However, the simultaneous rise in both loan balances and delinquency rates amid fierce competition in corporate finance ha May 14, 2026

Are We Just Sharpening Old Knives in the Obesity Treatment Market? "Which obesity treatment product will you choose?" As I reported on the obesity treatment market, I compared weight loss rates, side effects, and prices of various products multiple times. I also summarized differences in accessibility and formulation convenience. However, when asked to choose one, I hesitated to respond. The first products that came to mind were Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro. Rather than being just options among many, these two products have become benc May 14, 2026

Experts Predict Comfortable Victory for Ruling Party in Upcoming By-Elections The upcoming by-elections, held alongside the June 3 local elections and featuring 14 races, are generating significant interest. Both major parties have declared their commitment to a full-scale effort in these elections, leading experts to express mixed opinions on the Democratic Party's goal of retaining 13 districts and the potential for unification in key battlegrounds. As the elections approach, the outcome remains uncertain. In an interview with Aju Economy on May 14, six political May 14, 2026

The Paradox of Pensions in an Aging Society South Korea will enter a super-aged society in December 2024, when the population aged 65 and older exceeds 10 million, accounting for more than 20% of the total population. This shift has occurred 2 to 3 years earlier than previously projected for 2027. The proportion of elderly individuals is expected to reach 30% by 2036 and exceed 40% by 2050. With an average life expectancy projected to be 88.6 years by 2050, many retirees may face nearly 30 years of life after retirement.The challenge May 14, 2026