South Korea's foreign direct investment rises for 3rd consecutive quarter SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) - South Korea's foreign direct investment (FDI) rose in the first three months of this year, extending its growth streak to a third consecutive quarter. According to data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the country’s FDI reached $21.74 billion in the first quarter, up 36.2 percent from a year earlier, led by investment in financial and insurance services and a sharp increase in flows to the U.S. The growth followed a 5.7 percent on-year d June 30, 2026

AI investment push, chip rally lift KOSPI; KOSDAQ slips SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) - South Korean stocks ended mixed on Tuesday as semiconductor heavyweights led a sharp recovery in the benchmark KOSPI after morning losses, helped by stronger U.S. chip stocks overnight and the South Korean government's fresh support for artificial intelligence semiconductors, while the junior KOSDAQ slipped as investors took profits in battery and biotechnology shares. The benchmark KOSPI closed up 0.97 percent at 8,476.48. The index had fallen as low as the 8,220 lev June 30, 2026

World Cup 26: Brazil stop Japan, Germany crash out, Morocco advance SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) - Brazil ended Japan's upset bid with a dominant second-half comeback, Germany suffered another World Cup collapse and Morocco extended its recent run of strong international results as the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32 continued on Monday. Brazil came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 at Houston Stadium in Houston, Texas, in a match that kicked off at noon local time. Japan took the lead in the 29th minute through Kaishu Sano, whose long-range strike rewarded a discipli June 30, 2026

Korea sees sharpest rise in zombie firms among major economies SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) -Despite the benchmark KOSPI's spectacular run, South Korea saw the largest increase in the share of zombie companies among major economies between 2017 and 2025, with more than one in four listed firms unable to cover interest expenses with their earnings for three consecutive years, the country's largest business lobby said Tuesday. The Federation of Korean Industries said marginal companies accounted for 27.6 percent of Korea's listed firms in 2025, up 15.8 June 30, 2026

Samsung Electronics' largest union votes to retain chief SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) - The Samsung Electronics chapter of Samsung Group's Super Enterprise Labor Union (SELU), the company's largest labor union, has reaffirmed confidence in its head Choi Seung-ho after he brokered record compensation package for chipmaking employees, the union said Monday. According to the union, 33,550 of 38,336 participating members, or 87.52 percent, voted in favor of retaining Choi as chairman. The vote was held from June 24 to June 30, with 38,336 of 54,165 elig June 30, 2026

Pension overhang drags KOSPI, Tokyo rallies SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) - Korean stocks opened lower Tuesday as investors positioned for the National Pension Service to resume domestic equity sales from July, a supply overhang that dragged the KOSPI down even as Tokyo rallied and the local tech-heavy KOSDAQ climbed. The benchmark KOSPI fell 0.2 percent, shedding 20.19 points to 8,374.46, while the KOSDAQ rose 0.9 percent to 929.33. Foreigners drove the move, selling a net 808.7 billion won (522.0 million dollars) on the main board against buyi June 30, 2026

Korea's May factory output falls by steepest in a year on lower chip turnout SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) - South Korea’s industrial output fell for a second straight month in May as factory output dropped 3 percent on chip delivery adjustments, underscoring the weight of chipmaking on the economic performance, government data showed Tuesday. Manufacturing production fell 3.0 percent from the previous month, the steepest fall in a year, and dropped 0.9 percent from a year earlier. Output in the broader mining and manufacturing likewise fell 3.0 percent from April. The in June 30, 2026

Battery frenzy lifts KOSDAQ while chip stocks drag KOSPI down SEOUL, June 29 (AJP) - A battery-led frenzy on South Korea's junior KOSDAQ masked a flat, chip-heavy KOSPI on the main bourse on Monday, splitting the country's stock market into two sessions running in opposite directions. The secondary-battery rally drove the KOSDAQ up 8.1 percent to 920.57, while the KOSPI slipped 0.2 percent to 8,394.65 as key chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix fell. Foreign investors turned net buyers on the main board, while institutional and retail buyi June 29, 2026

BOK hunts for successor to lead its research institute SEOUL, June 29 (AJP) - The Bank of Korea (BOK) is scouting for an economist who will head its affiliated research institute, the central bank said on Monday. According to its open recruitment notice, the successful candidate, who will replace incumbent Lee Jae-won, a former professor at Seoul National University who took the role in 2023, will head the Economic Research Institute and be responsible for shaping the BOK's medium- to long-term research agenda as chief economist, regardless of June 29, 2026

KOSDAQ nearly 7% higher ahead of major infrastructure spending SEOUL, June 29 (AJP) -South Korea's junior KOSDAQ index stole the limelight amid broad retreat in Asia, gaining more than 6 percent Monday morning on expectations of the government's unveiling of mega industrial projects led by Samsung Electronics and SK Group expected to announce private-sector investments that could exceed 1 quadrillion won over the next decade. President Lee Jae Myung is set to chair a national briefing later in the day outlining the projects, which center on semicon June 29, 2026