Real Estate Agents Face Decline as Closures Outpace New Openings The national real estate agency sector is entering a phase of decline, with closures outpacing new openings for the third consecutive year, marking the end of the era of 110,000 licensed real estate agents. As the stagnation in real estate transactions continues, the number of new entrants is also sharply decreasing, leading to a significant structural contraction in the industry. According to the Korea Association of Licensed Real Estate Agents, the number of active real estate agents p June 4, 2026

Finance Ministry Meets with Duty-Free Industry to Discuss Support Measures As the domestic duty-free industry shows signs of recovery this year, risks such as competition with local retail channels and high exchange rates remain prevalent. In response, the Ministry of Finance has convened a meeting with industry representatives to address their concerns. On June 4, the Ministry of Finance held a meeting at Incheon Airport with the Korea Duty-Free Shops Association to assess the current market situation and explore revitalization strategies. The ministry listened t June 4, 2026

SK Group's Chey Tae-won Establishes AI Partnership with Foxconn Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, is accelerating efforts to dominate the global artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem by solidifying partnerships with Foxconn, following a similar agreement with TSMC. On June 3, local time, Chey met with Foxconn Chairman Liu Yangwei in Taipei to discuss collaboration aimed at enhancing next-generation AI infrastructure competitiveness. As the leadership in the AI industry expands beyond semiconductors to encompass servers and data centers, the partner June 4, 2026

Minister Kim Sung-hwan: No Immediate Plans for Electricity Rate Increase Minister Kim Sung-hwan of the Climate Energy Environment Ministry stated on June 4 that the government is not currently considering an increase in electricity rates despite the recent rise in liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices.During a briefing with reporters at the Government Complex in Seoul, Kim explained that the threshold for Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) to turn to losses is an average wholesale electricity price (SMP) of 146 won, while the current SMP remains in the 120 won ran June 4, 2026

South Korea's Trade Surplus with China on the Horizon Amid Semiconductor Boom South Korea is on the verge of returning to a trade surplus with China. After more than four years of deficits, the recovery is largely driven by a surge in semiconductor exports and increased demand for advanced electronic components due to the expansion of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry.This is certainly welcome news. China remains South Korea's largest trading partner and one of its biggest export markets. In recent years, the South Korean economy has faced challenges, including a June 4, 2026

China Trade Surplus in Sight, but Structural Deficits Persist South Korea is on the verge of achieving a trade surplus with China for the first time in four years, but experts caution that this should not be viewed as a structural recovery. While rising semiconductor prices have contributed to the improvement in the trade balance, the structural vulnerabilities related to China's self-sufficiency in intermediate goods and dependence on core minerals remain significant.According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Customs Service, the cumu June 4, 2026

SOOP Executives Buy Back Company Shares to Enhance Accountability and Shareholder Value SOOP's key executives have initiated a share buyback to strengthen accountability and enhance shareholder value. On June 4, SOOP announced that CEO Choi Young-woo, CEO Lee Min-won, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Choi Dong-geun, and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Lee Byung-ho acquired company shares through market purchases. Choi and Lee each purchased shares worth approximately 100 million won, while CTO Choi and CFO Lee acquired shares valued at around 50 million won each. The company e June 4, 2026

Strong Semiconductor Exports Push South Korea's Trade Surplus with China Near $10 Billion Global semiconductor price increases have led to a seven-month rise in South Korea's exports to China, resulting in a trade surplus. This marks a significant shift from three years of trade deficits between the two nations. However, there are concerns that the current gains may be short-lived due to rising semiconductor prices, prompting the need to identify 'post-semiconductor' sectors for growth. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, exports to China reached $18.9 bil June 4, 2026

Regulating Dual Listings: Balancing Shareholder Protection and Corporate Growth The announcement of guidelines prohibiting dual listings is imminent. Since the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration, the enhancement of the capital market and shareholder value has emerged as a key policy priority, prompting financial authorities to accelerate regulatory reforms. While there is optimism that this will curb the longstanding practice of dual listings in South Korea, concerns persist that it may stifle companies' investment capabilities. When a parent company i June 4, 2026

Surge in Memory Chip Prices Driven by AI Demand, Morgan Stanley Warns of 'Chipflation' Investment in artificial intelligence (AI) data centers has triggered a shortage of memory chips, leading to rising prices for electronics and cloud services. Morgan Stanley has labeled this phenomenon as 'chipflation,' indicating that the memory bottleneck has evolved into a macroeconomic concern beyond the semiconductor industry. According to a report by Reuters on June 3, Morgan Stanley stated in a 66-page document that "the issue that began with AI infrastructure bottlenecks is now spr June 4, 2026