news highlight

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  BOK raises 2026 growth forecast to 3.3%, inflation seen at 2.7% SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) -The Bank of Korea (BOK) bumped up its growth forecast for this year to 3.3 percent from 2.6 percent in May, citing a stronger and longer-than-expected semiconductor upcycle that has fueled equipment investment and stock-market activity in Korea. Annual growth of 3.3 percent would put Asia's fourth-largest economy above its potential growth rate for the first time since its 4.7 percent rebound in 2021 from the pandemic-hit year of 2020. The government has also raised August 27, 2026
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  BOK delivers back-to-back hike to 3% Aug SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) -The Bank of Korea (BOK) delivered a back-to-back rate hike to bring the benchmark rate to 3.00 percent on Thursday after holding it at 2.50 percent for 14 months through June. The move narrowed the interest-rate gap with the United States to 50 to 75 basis points, with the Federal Reserve's target range at 3.50 percent to 3.75 percent, reducing one source of pressure on the won and capital flows. The BOK said stronger-than-expected growth, persistent inflation press August 27, 2026
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  Samsung Display puts expandable OLED at center of Genesis GV90 SEOUL, August 26 (AJP) - Samsung Display is stepping up its push into automotive OLEDs, supplying Genesis' flagship GV90 electric SUV with an expandable center screen that grows by nearly 70 percent when the vehicle is parked. The display maker said Wednesday it has begun shipping two OLED panels for the GV90 this month, including a 24.6-inch center display and 13.2-inch screens mounted behind the front-seat headrests. At the center of the vehicle is what Samsung calls a Cinematic Displ August 26, 2026
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  South Korean matchmaker Duo fined $250,000 over false claims SEOUL, August 26 (AJP) - South Korean regulator has fined matchmaking company Duo 345 million won ($250,000) for misleading claims that it had the industry’s largest pools of professionals and graduates from prestigious universities. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said Wednesday the company had used the claims across its website, blog and outdoor advertisements since April 2022. The regulator also ordered the company to correct the practices. Among the slogans were statements that it ha August 26, 2026
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  Asian stocks tread water ahead of Nvidia results SEOUL, August 26 (AJP) — Asian stocks were mostly sidelined Wednesday as investors waited for a cluster of market-moving U.S. events, with South Korea's KOSPI and regional chip shares looking to Nvidia's earnings for their next direction. Markets are bracing for three major catalysts - the U.S. personal consumption expenditures price index, Nvidia's earnings after the bell on Wednesday and Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh's remarks at the Jackson Hole symposium Friday. August 26, 2026
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  LG CNS, Naver Cloud to cool Korea's biggest AI factory SEOUL, August 26 (AJP) - LG CNS announced Wednesday that it will build next-generation liquid-cooling infrastructure with Naver Cloud at its Samsong data center, moving to capture an early lead in the fast-emerging market for AI-ready computing facilities. The rollout comes as generative AI drives surging power draw and heat from high-performance graphics processing units, straining the conventional air-cooling systems that have long kept server rooms in check. To answer that, LG CNS will d August 26, 2026
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  LG pushes gaming monitors to 1,000Hz without sacrificing FHD resolution SEOUL, August 26 (AJP) - LG Electronics on Wednesday launched a gaming monitor capable of running at a 1,000Hz refresh rate while maintaining full-HD resolution, pushing display speeds further as competition intensifies in the premium gaming hardware market. The 25-inch UltraGear 25G590B is the world's first commercially available gaming monitor to natively support a 1,000Hz refresh rate at FHD resolution, according to LG. The company said the claim is based on gaming monitors available in August 26, 2026
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  Won retreats as long-end Korean bonds rally ahead of BOK SEOUL, August 25 (AJP) - The Korean won weakened Tuesday after seven straight gains, and long-dated government bonds rallied ahead of a policy decision by the Bank of Korea (BOK). The won closed daytime trading at 1,386.1 per dollar, weakening 3.7 won from Monday's 1,382.4. It was the currency's first decline in eight sessions. The won briefly strengthened below 1,380 early in the session before reversing. The dollar firmed, and foreign investors continued to sell Korean shares. The August 25, 2026
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  KOSPI rebounds as chip giants recover, institutions step in SEOUL, August 25 (AJP) - South Korean stocks staged a sharp rebound Tuesday as chip heavyweights recovered and institutional buying offset heavy foreign selling. The benchmark KOSPI closed at 6,742.74, up 0.68 percent or 45.78 points from the previous session. The index opened 2.40 percent lower at 6,535.93 and fell as low as 6,408.82 before reversing course. It climbed to an intraday high of 6,747.16 and finished near the day's peak. The rebound was broad, with 647 stocks advancing while August 25, 2026