Journalist

Yang Boyeon
  • Mirae Asset Venture Investment Jumps on SpaceX IPO Hopes; Other Related Shares Rise
    Mirae Asset Venture Investment Jumps on SpaceX IPO Hopes; Other Related Shares Rise Shares seen as beneficiaries of a potential SpaceX listing surged in South Korea on Tuesday. According to the Korea Exchange, Mirae Asset Venture Investment was up 11,150 won, or 23.55%, at 58,500 won as of 1:01 p.m., compared with the previous session. The stock touched 61,500 won during the session, setting a new 52-week high. At the same time, Aju IB Investment rose 18.65% and YJ Link gained 6.63%. The rally was attributed to buying in companies that have invested in SpaceX after reports that the aerospace company led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk could go public as early as June. SpaceX plans to raise a total of $75 billion through an initial public offering and seek a valuation of $1.75 trillion. Reuters also reported Tuesday that SpaceX would adopt a dual-class share structure. Class A shares for general investors would carry one vote per share, while Class B shares held by Musk and others would carry 10 votes per share. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 13:45:15
  • BNK Securities Raises LS Eco Energy Target Price on Record Quarterly Results
    BNK Securities Raises LS Eco Energy Target Price on Record Quarterly Results BNK Investment & Securities on April 22 raised its target price for LS Eco Energy to 80,000 won from 60,000 won, citing the company’s record quarterly revenue and expanding demand for power transmission lines. It maintained its “buy” rating. Kim Jang-won, an analyst at BNK Investment & Securities, said first-quarter revenue and operating profit both hit all-time highs, driven by orders for an extra-high-voltage power line project in Vietnam and strong performance in the materials business. He said the company has entered a period of structural growth as investment in power infrastructure expands. Kim added that LS Eco Energy is diversifying demand by exporting to the United States while producing in Vietnam, and that a higher share of high-voltage and extra-high-voltage power lines is improving profitability. Kim said demand for higher-margin products such as underground cables, extra-high-voltage power lines and subsea cables is expected to rise under Vietnam’s power development plan and urbanization policies, which he said should further widen profit growth over the medium to long term. He also said the company has significant room to expand its business, supported by affiliates that are competitive in the global power infrastructure market, and that a valuation re-rating is possible given its higher profitability than peers.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 09:18:14
  • KOSPI Closes at Record 6,388.47 on Foreign and Institutional Buying
    KOSPI Closes at Record 6,388.47 on Foreign and Institutional Buying South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI on Monday broke past its previous high for the first time in about two months, lifted by heavy buying from foreign investors and institutions. According to the Korea Exchange, the KOSPI closed up 169.38 points, or 2.72%, at 6,388.47, an all-time closing high. The index opened at 6,302.54, up 83.45 points, or 1.34%, from the previous session and extended gains through the day. Lee Kyung-min, a researcher at Daishin Securities, said uncertainty has increased since Trump’s tariff announcement, weakening investor sentiment. He added that the domestic market has been sluggish because it has a high weighting in the auto industry and semiconductor sector. In the main KOSPI market, foreigners were net buyers of 1.7355 trillion won and institutions bought a net 797.3 billion won. Retail investors sold a net 2.3432 trillion won. Among the most heavily weighted stocks, Samsung Electronics rose 2.10%, SK hynix gained 4.97%, LG Energy Solution jumped 11.42%, Hyundai Motor advanced 3.61%, SK Square added 2.43% and Doosan Enerbility climbed 4.23%. Samsung Biologics fell 1.06% and Hanwha Aerospace slid 2.39%. By sector, gains were led by electrical and electronics, up 3.87%, machinery and equipment, up 3.73%, chemicals, up 2.16%, financials, up 0.72%, and IT services, up 0.19%. Pharmaceuticals fell 1.40% and insurance slipped 0.01%. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ closed up 4.18 points, or 0.36%, at 1,179.03. It opened at 1,186.23, up 11.38 points, or 0.97%, from the previous session. In the KOSDAQ market, retail investors were net buyers of 583.9 billion won, while foreigners sold a net 389.3 billion won and institutions sold a net 124.7 billion won. Among top KOSDAQ stocks, EcoPro rose 5.21%, EcoPro BM gained 5.00% and Lino Industrial added 1.63%. Alteogen fell 0.67%, Rainbow Robotics dropped 1.15%, Samchundang Pharm slipped 0.42% and ABL Bio declined 2.68%. By sector, electrical and electronics rose 1.84%, machinery and equipment gained 2.79%, financials climbed 3.39%, chemicals added 1.39% and distribution rose 0.77%. Pharmaceuticals fell 2.27%, general services dropped 2.97% and IT services declined 0.92%.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 18:13:34
  • Kwangmyung Electric’s Control Shifts to Newly Formed Firm as Delisting Risk Looms
    Kwangmyung Electric’s Control Shifts to Newly Formed Firm as Delisting Risk Looms ◆Aju Economy Top News ▷-KB Securities said the agentic AI market is expected to grow from $7.5 billion in 2025 to $199.0 billion in 2034, implying 44% average annual growth. -The firm said wider adoption of agentic AI signals a shift beyond conventional generative AI, from training-centered computing to inference-centered computing, which it expects to structurally lift demand for memory semiconductors. -From 2026, inference servers are expected to account for more than half of AI infrastructure, driving a surge in memory demand centered on server DRAM and enterprise SSDs, it said. -As AI evolves into a physical AI stage, including humanoids and autonomous driving, demand for high-performance, low-power memory is expected to jump on the need for real-time data processing, the report said. -KB Securities said memory makers including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are likely to stand out as key beneficiaries of AI industry growth. ◆Major filings after the close (20th) ▷Hyundai Engineering & Construction selected as preferred bidder for Apgujeong District 3 reconstruction project ▷POSCO Holdings decides to acquire a stake in an Indian mining company worth 160.9 billion won ▷SCM Life Science to be suspended from trading from the 23rd due to a share consolidation ▷Purit decides on new facility investment worth 35.0 billion won ▷ENCell signs a 600 million won contract to manufacture and supply advanced biopharmaceuticals ▷YAS signs a supply contract with a Chinese company for deposition equipment for mass display production ◆Fund flows (as of the 17th, excluding ETFs) ▷Domestic equity funds: -11.3 billion won ▷Overseas equity funds: -32.0 billion won ◆Key events today (21st) ▷Germany: ZEW Economic Sentiment Index ▷United States: Retail sales (March), pending home sales (March)* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 17:36:48
  • KOSPI Closes at Record High, Extending Rally Despite Middle East War Concerns
    KOSPI Closes at Record High, Extending Rally Despite Middle East War Concerns South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI surged to a fresh record on the 21st, extending its rally despite the fallout from the war in the Middle East. According to the Korea Exchange, the KOSPI closed up 169.38 points, or 2.72%, at 6,388.47. It also set a new intraday high, surpassing the previous peak of 6,347.41, and topped the prior record close of 6,307.27 set Feb. 26. Foreign investors and institutions led the advance. Foreigners bought a net 1.7472 trillion won worth of shares, while institutions posted net purchases of 796.0 billion won. Buying was concentrated in semiconductors. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, the No. 1 and No. 2 stocks by market capitalization on the KOSPI, rose 2.1% and 4.97% to close at 219,000 won and 1,224,000 won, respectively. Ahead of its earnings release on the 23rd, SK hynix finished above 1.2 million won for the first time on a closing basis. As the index climbed, margin trading also accelerated. The Korea Financial Investment Association said outstanding credit loans for stock purchases stood at a record 34.2592 trillion won as of the 20th. The total included 23.6256 trillion won on the main board and 10.6336 trillion won on the KOSDAQ, exceeding the previous high of 34.0279 trillion won set April 17. Analysts largely viewed the rally positively but urged investors to stay alert to geopolitical risks. Kim Hak-kyun, head of the research center at Shinyoung Securities, said the rise was part of a global trend and that the Middle East issue was “short-term noise” within an existing uptrend. “There is no evidence that the upward trend has broken,” he said, adding that the case for gains remains intact, citing the semiconductor cycle and “manageable inflation.” Lee Byeong-geon, head of the research center at DB Securities, said flexibility would be needed as external factors evolve. “It’s right to view the market positively because leaders such as semiconductors have not turned down,” he said. “But depending on negotiation outcomes, the beneficiaries and losers could diverge by stock. It is necessary to respond with a portfolio while closely watching external developments.” 2026-04-21 16:39:34
  • KOSPI Hits Record High as Foreign Buying Lifts Shares Despite Geopolitical Risks
    KOSPI Hits Record High as Foreign Buying Lifts Shares Despite Geopolitical Risks South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI is pushing to fresh records despite uncertainty from geopolitical risks, helped by upbeat calls from global investment banks and heavy foreign buying. Still, a surge in leveraged stock purchases is being cited as a potential source of instability. According to the Korea Exchange, the KOSPI set two records on the 21st, surpassing both its intraday high of 6,347.41 set Feb. 27 and its previous record close of 6,307.27 set Feb. 26. Foreign inflows that have returned in April continued, with overseas investors net buying 1.7523 trillion won worth of shares on the main board, led by semiconductors. Buying has concentrated in chipmakers as profit estimates for the sector have been raised sharply ahead of SK hynix’s earnings report on the 23rd. Global investment banks have also been lifting their targets. Goldman Sachs raised its KOSPI target to 8,000, citing improving results for domestic semiconductors and industrials. Nomura kept its target range at 7,500 to 8,000, saying a semiconductor upcycle could offset macro risks. Even with the broadly positive outlook, some investors worry another sharp pullback like March could return. A key concern is the swelling use of leverage. The Korea Financial Investment Association said outstanding margin loans stood at a record 34.2592 trillion won as of the previous day. Of that, 23.6256 trillion won was on the KOSPI market and 10.6336 trillion won on the Kosdaq market. Analysts said foreign buying tied to improving fundamentals is supportive, but margin debt above 34 trillion won could become a trigger if prices fall. If declines push collateral ratios below required levels, brokerages can force sales, and a wave of liquidations can deepen losses and set off further margin calls. Despite those risks, many in the brokerage industry still expect the rally to continue. Lee Jae-won, an analyst at Yuanta Securities, said external factors such as a possible reclosure of the Strait of Hormuz are weighing on markets but are being viewed as part of efforts to gain leverage in negotiations, while extensions of ceasefire deadlines by the Trump administration are reducing volatility. He added that the KOSPI remains in a “deep value” zone on a price-to-earnings basis, leaving room for further gains even after the latest record. 2026-04-21 16:38:38
  • KOSPI Jumps More Than 2% to Top 6,370 on Foreign and Institutional Buying
    KOSPI Jumps More Than 2% to Top 6,370 on Foreign and Institutional Buying South Korea’s KOSPI surged more than 2% in intraday trading, breaking past its previous high. Shares rose, led by semiconductors, on expectations for the upcoming earnings season despite concerns about volatility tied to the Middle East. According to the Korea Exchange, the KOSPI was up 150.91 points, or 2.43%, at 6,370.00 as of 1:48 p.m. The index opened up 83.45 points, or 1.34%, at 6,302.54 and extended gains on foreign buying. In the main market, foreigners and institutions were net buyers of 1.2823 trillion won and 631.3 billion won, respectively, while individuals were net sellers of 1.8002 trillion won. Among large-cap stocks, Samsung Electronics rose 1.86% and SK hynix gained 4.55%. Hyundai Motor added 2.66%, LG Energy Solution jumped 9.91% and SK Square rose 1.00%. Samsung Biologics slipped 0.37% and Hanwha Aerospace fell 2.25%. The KOSDAQ was down 1.21 points, or 0.10%, at 1,173.64 at the same time. The index opened up 11.38 points, or 0.97%, at 1,186.23, but turned lower as foreigners and institutions sold. In the KOSDAQ market, individuals were net buyers of 552.1 billion won, while foreigners and institutions were net sellers of 395.7 billion won and 98.8 billion won, respectively. Among top KOSDAQ shares, Alteogen fell 0.54%, Rainbow Robotics dropped 1.64%, Samchundang Pharm slid 0.21%, ABL Bio lost 2.87% and Kolon TissueGene sank 6.21%. EcoPro rose 3.98%, EcoPro BM gained 4.29% and Lino Industrial added 0.34%. 2026-04-21 14:00:19
  • NPS holding in Korean stocks stretches $54 bn Q1 thanks to chip names
    NPS holding in Korean stocks stretches $54 bn Q1 thanks to chip names SEOUL, April 09 (AJP) -South Korea’s National Pension Service, one of the world's largest with 1,540.4 trillion won worth assets under management as of January, saw its value of its holdings in domestic equities stretch by 80 trillion won ($54 billion) in the first quarter thanks to the spikes in memory stocks. According to financial data tracker FnGuide, the NPS stakes in 291 listed companies subject to disclosure with holding ratio of more than 5 percent were valued at 323.76 trillion won as of Tuesday, up 78.55 trillion won from 245.21 trillion won at end-2025 to deliver a return rate of 32.0 percent. The increase exceeded the gain of 69.69 trillion won in the prior quarter. As of Wednesday, the KOSPI was 39.4 percent higher from the end of December, and KOSDAQ 17.76 percent up. Shares of Samsung Electronics have surged around 75.6 percent, and SK hynix 59 percent during the same period. The NPS’ stake in Samsung Electronics remained unchanged at 7.75 percent, but the holding value jumped 63.8 percent to 90.12 trillion won. Its stake in SK hynix rose to 7.50 percent from 7.35 percent, with the value climbing 40.7 percent to 48.99 trillion won. Together, the two accounted for 62.7 percent of the value bump-up for NPS holdings. Other notable contributors included Hyundai Motor, Hanwha Aerospace and Mirae Asset Securities, with the NPS raising its stake in the brokerage by 1.18 percentage points. Portfolio shifts pointed to a growing tilt toward KOSDAQ-listed names. The NPS newly added 22 stocks with stakes of 5 percent or more in the first quarter, while 15 fell below the threshold. Of the additions, 14 were on the KOSDAQ. Daejoo Electronic Materials stood out with a 10.01 percent stake, alongside Vinattech (8.68 percent) and RF Materials (7.43 percent). Among KOSPI additions, Kakao Pay had the largest stake at 6.10 percent. By sector, semiconductors and related equipment led new additions, followed by electrical equipment, biotech, commercial services, and metals and minerals. The number of holdings with stakes of 5 percent or more rose to 276 from 269, while those above 10 percent increased to 37 from 34. Stakes were unchanged in 114 companies, increased in 105 and reduced in 74. HD Hyundai Infracore was among the most heavily sold, with its stake falling below 5 percent from 13.21 percent. The strong first-quarter performance extends a record year for the pension fund. NPS said its fund delivered 231.6 trillion won in investment income for 2025, posting a preliminary return of 18.82 percent — the highest since its inception — and lifting total assets under management to 1,458 trillion won. The annualized return since 1988 stood at 8.04 percent. The 2025 performance outpaced major global peers, including Japan’s GPIF (12.3 percent), Norway’s GPFG (15.1 percent), Canada’s CPPIB (7.7 percent), and the Netherlands’ ABP (–1.6 percent). Domestic equities led returns with a surge of 82.44 percent, driven by an AI-fueled semiconductor rally and policy-driven market optimism. Global equities returned 19.74 percent, while alternative investments gained 8.03 percent. Fixed income also posted positive returns despite rate volatility. As of January, domestic equity investment by the fund represented 21.4 percent of its portfolio. 2026-04-09 09:48:38
  • Milano 2026: Kim Gil-li Wins Bronze in Women’s 1,000 Meters; JTBC Apologizes for Flag Graphic
    Milano 2026: Kim Gil-li Wins Bronze in Women’s 1,000 Meters; JTBC Apologizes for Flag Graphic ​​​​​​​JTBC issues official apology for airing Japanese flag graphic JTBC, which is exclusively broadcasting the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, issued an official apology after a Japanese flag graphic appeared during a South Korea-Japan women’s curling match. In a statement posted on its website on the 16th, JTBC said that at about 11:23 p.m. on the 15th, a Japanese national flag graphic was briefly shown on an advertising screen during the process of airing a mid-broadcast commercial break in the live curling telecast. The network said it was sorry for the inconvenience caused by a production error and pledged stricter checks and management to prevent a repeat. The incident occurred during live coverage of the women’s curling round-robin fifth match between South Korea and Japan at the Cortina curling stadium in Italy. After the fifth end ended, an unrelated Japanese flag graphic aired for about 10 seconds during the commercial break. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visits air defense unit ahead of Lunar New Year Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited an air defense position of the 1st Air Defense Brigade on the 16th, a day before Lunar New Year, to encourage service members defending the capital’s airspace. He received a briefing on the unit and had lunch with troops. “With you here, Seoul residents can go about their daily lives with peace of mind,” Oh said. “Because Seoul has many key national infrastructure facilities, maintain a constant state of readiness and serve with pride in the mission of protecting the capital.” Oh later boarded and inspected the surface-to-air guided weapon system known as the “Chunma,” then took commemorative photos with service members. Kyiv mayor warns Ukraine’s survival as an independent state is not guaranteed Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko warned in an interview with the Financial Times that he cannot guarantee Ukraine will remain an independent state as Russia continues attacks on infrastructure. He said the capital is facing a near-collapse crisis and residents are under severe pressure to survive during a harsh winter. According to AFP, heating has been cut to about 1,600 buildings in the capital, and disruptions to electricity and heat are spreading amid cold below minus 20 degrees Celsius. Even when damaged energy facilities are repaired, additional airstrikes soon knock them out again, he said, adding that Europe’s support alone is not enough to respond. Klitschko said he has had disagreements with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over crisis response, but stressed unity is needed against attacks aimed at fueling internal instability. Meanwhile, the U.S. administration led by Donald Trump is pressing for talks to end the war, including territorial compromise and early elections, as the conflict moves into a phase combining military operations and negotiations. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-16 21:48:00
  • Kim Jin-su duo sits 12th after two runs in Olympic two-man bobsled; Seok Young-jin 19th
    Kim Jin-su duo sits 12th after two runs in Olympic two-man bobsled; Seok Young-jin 19th South Korea’s men’s two-man bobsled teams led by Kim Jin-su and Seok Young-jin were outside the top 10 after the first two heats at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Kim, with brakeman Kim Hyeong-geun (both from Gangwon Provincial Office), was 12th among 26 teams with a combined time of 1 minute, 51.69 seconds in heats 1 and 2 on Feb. 16 at the Cortina Sliding Center in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The Kim team had raised expectations by finishing fourth in the season’s first World Cup in November on the same Cortina track that is hosting the Olympic races. They were fifth in the first heat in 55.53 seconds, but slipped to 15th in the second heat with 56.16, dropping in the overall standings. Seok, with brakeman Chae Byeong-do (Catholic Kwandong University), was 19th in 1:52.50. Germany swept the top three spots after the first two heats. Johannes Lochner and Georg Fleischhauer led in 1:49.90, followed by Francesco Friedrich and Alexander Schueller in 1:50.70, and Adam Ammour and Alexander Schaller in 1:51.14. Heats 3 and 4, which will decide the final standings, are scheduled for 3 a.m. on Feb. 18 (Korea time).* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-16 21:30:00