Journalist

Lee Jung-woo
  • Asian markets hardly move ahead of Fed decision
    Asian markets hardly move ahead of Fed decision SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - Asian markets barely budged Wednesday as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy decision. In Seoul, the KOSPI slipped 0.2 percent to 4,135.00, extending its decline for a second session this week, while the KOSDAQ gained 0.4 percent to 935.00. Institutional investors unloaded 344.3 billion won ($234 million), offset by 296.4 billion won in foreign buying and 18.6 billion won from retail investors. Samsung Electronics fell 0.4 percent to 108,000 won ($73.4), but SK hynix jumped 3.7 percent to 587,000 won as foreign investors piled in following reports that the chipmaker is considering listing its treasury shares as American depositary receipts in the United States. An ADR allows U.S. investors to trade foreign stocks through certificates issued by a U.S. depository institution. Samsung SDI added 2.4 percent to 317,500 won after reports it had secured a battery supply deal worth about 2 trillion won ($1.36 billion) in the U.S. But most other large caps weakened. LG Energy Solution slipped 0.5 percent to 441,500 won, Hyundai Motor fell 1.5 percent to 302,500 won, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries eased 1 percent to 571,000 won, Hanwha Aerospace sank 3.9 percent to 923,000 won and Naver dropped 1.4 percent to 244,500 won. Entertainment stocks rose across the board, with HYBE up 2.8 percent to 299,000 won, SM Entertainment up 2.2 percent to 103,800 won, JYP Entertainment gaining 0.2 percent to 67,900 won and YG Entertainment rising 0.7 percent to 62,200 won. The Fed is widely expected to cut its target rate range — now at 3.75 percent to 4.00 percent — by 25 basis points. Japan’s Nikkei 225 inched down 0.1 percent to 50,602.80. Toyota Motor rose 1.6 percent to 3,116 yen ($19.9), while Honda Motor climbed 3.3 percent to 1,575.5 yen. But most other market heavyweights slipped: Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group fell 0.7 percent, SoftBank Group lost 0.7 percent, Sony Group dropped 2.9 percent and Hitachi dipped 0.5 percent. Nintendo retreated 2.7 percent, while Canon gained 2.1 percent. Bloomberg reported that Osaka — Japan’s second-largest economic hub and long a beneficiary of Chinese tourist inflows — is now facing sharp fallout from the slump in Chinese visitors. The Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau said hotel cancellation rates have reached 50 to 70 percent, with Namba, the city’s main entertainment district, hit the hardest. Luxury spending by Chinese tourists is projected to fall to $40 million to $60 million per month, about half previous levels. China’s Shanghai Composite Index edged down 0.2 percent to 3,900.50. Nomura’s chief China economist Ting Lu warned this week that Beijing must face the depth of its property-sector debt woes as export growth is expected to slow to around 4 percent next year. Lu expects the government to lower its official growth target from about 5 percent to 4.5–5.0 percent in 2026. Nomura projects China’s GDP will expand 4.3 percent in 2026. 2025-12-10 17:16:44
  • Year-end IPO buzz in Seoul preludes brisk H1 2026
    Year-end IPO buzz in Seoul preludes brisk H1 2026 SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - South Korea’s IPO market, dormant for much of the year, is ending 2025 in a surprising burst of activity, with 10 companies going public in December alone. The pattern runs counter to the usual cycle, where listings cluster in the first half and taper off as investors and bankers wind down for the holidays. Instead, this December has emerged as the busiest in recent years, up from six IPOs in both 2023 and 2024. The reason is simple: demand is hot. Of the 12 companies that debuted on the KOSPI and KOSDAQ since October, eight more than doubled their IPO price on day one — a performance that has revived optimism across the primary market. AimedBio, which listed on Dec. 4, quadrupled its IPO price in intraday trading and briefly ranked 19th in KOSDAQ market capitalization, the highest among this year’s newcomers. As of 2:24 p.m. Wednesday, its shares were trading at 47,750 won ($32.5), placing the biotech firm 20th on the index. TeraView, which went public Tuesday, also doubled its IPO price and hit the daily upper limit of 20,800 won on Wednesday, after closing its debut session at 16,000 won — twice the offering price of 8,000 won. The Cambridge-based firm is the first British company to list on KOSDAQ, providing advanced inspection equipment used across multiple industries. Another new entrant, Pescaro, surged to 47,000 won shortly after its Wednesday debut — nearly triple its offering price of 15,500 won — and closed at 27,100 won, up 74.8 percent from its IPO price. The company specializes in integrated vehicle security platforms. More listings are scheduled this week. Aegis, a Daegu-based digital platform company that creates “digital earth” replicas of the physical world, will debut Thursday after pricing its IPO at the top of the range, 15,000 won. On Friday, Quadmedicine, a medical technology company focused on microneedle platforms for transdermal drug delivery, will enter the market. Next week brings another packed slate: TMC on Dec. 15, Acryl on Dec. 16, Naraspace Technology on Dec. 17, and Algenomics on Dec. 18. Capping the year is one of the most anticipated offerings, Semifive, slated to list on Dec. 29. The design solutions company enables clients to accelerate custom semiconductor development through automation-enabled design infrastructure and proprietary IP. Analysts expect Semifive to be among the most significant KOSDAQ debuts of 2025. Eugene Investment & Securities analyst Park Jong-seon said global demand for customized ASICs — especially for artificial intelligence — is beginning to surge, and noted that Semifive differentiates itself through design experience with major tech firms and strong platform capabilities. The momentum is likely to carry into early 2026. The pipeline includes heavyweight candidates such as Musinsa, Goodai Global, Olive Young, and K-Bank, pointing to a brisk first half as Korea’s capital markets regain their appetite for new listings. 2025-12-10 15:59:23
  • Asian stocks mostly flat ahead of FOMC as caution builds
    Asian stocks mostly flat ahead of FOMC as caution builds SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - Asian stocks were largely unchanged on Tuesday as investors stayed cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve’s final policy meeting of the year. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI slipped 0.3 percent to 4,143.55, while the KOSDAQ added 0.4 percent to 931.35. Market sentiment was subdued as traders awaited the outcome of the two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting beginning Tuesday U.S. time, where policymakers will decide the December rate move. The KOSPI retreated after two sessions of gains, dragged lower by heavyweight tech shares Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. Samsung slid 0.9 percent to 108,400 won ($73.8), and SK hynix dropped 1.9 percent to 566,000 won. LG Energy Solution, the third-largest stock by market cap, fell 1.8 percent to 443,500 won. Autos also weakened. Hyundai Motor declined 2.7 percent to 307,000 won, Kia slipped 1.4 percent to 123,800 won, and KB Financial Group lost 1.5 percent to 126,000 won. Entertainment stocks were mixed to slightly higher. HYBE rose 0.7 percent to 291,000 won, JYP Entertainment edged up 0.3 percent to 67,800 won, and YG Entertainment added 0.5 percent to 61,800 won, while SM Entertainment dipped 0.4 percent to 101,600 won. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 inched up 0.1 percent to 50,655.10 as large-cap shares moved unevenly. Toyota Motor, the index’s biggest constituent, rose 0.2 percent to 3,066 yen ($19.6), and SoftBank Group gained 0.8 percent to 18,800 yen. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group slipped 0.5 percent to 2,486 yen, and Nintendo tumbled 3.4 percent to 11,900 yen. Canon climbed 1.3 percent to 4,635 yen, and Panasonic Holdings advanced 1.5 percent to 1,886.5 yen. NHK on Monday released a survey of 1,192 adults showing that 54 percent were concerned that China–Japan tensions could negatively affect the Japanese economy—14 percent saying they were “very worried” and 40 percent “somewhat worried.” In China, the Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.4 percent to 3,909.52. China’s exports rose more than expected in November, according to customs data released Monday. Shipments increased 5.9 percent from a year earlier to $330.35 billion, beating economists’ forecasts of a 3.8 percent gain in a Reuters poll and 4 percent in a Bloomberg survey. The country’s trade surplus for January–November reached $1.08 trillion, topping the $1 trillion mark for the first time on record. Some Chinese economists say the surplus is now too large and is weighing on domestic demand. Zhang Jun, dean of the School of Economics at Fudan University, said in a recent speech that China should consider narrowing the surplus—and even running a deficit in the long term—to stimulate consumption. 2025-12-09 17:37:36
  • Korean memory makers eye bumper year to extend into 2026
    Korean memory makers eye bumper year to extend into 2026 SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc., enjoying their best-yet bumper cycle, are set to reap more than $20 billion in combined operating income for the quarter ending December, according to upgrades by brokerage houses following stronger-than-expected price gains in memory chips from mass-market to high end. Kiwoom Securities on Monday projected SK hynix’s fourth-quarter operating profit at 16.2 trillion won ($11 billion), about 1.6 trillion won above the market consensus estimate of 14.6 trillion won. Its mainstay DRAM business, led by high-bandwidth memory (HBM), is expected to deliver 15.3 trillion won, while NAND flash profit is seen at 900 billion won—up 39 percent and 170 percent, respectively, from the previous quarter. KB Securities projected on Tuesday that Samsung Electronics will record an operating profit of 19 trillion won in the fourth quarter, a 192 percent jump from a year earlier, comfortably beating the market consensus of 14.9 trillion won. Operating profit from the chip division is expected to surge fivefold year on year and double from the previous quarter to 15.1 trillion won, with DRAM operating margins improving to 53 percent from 32 percent in the same period last year. Industry watchers predict the red-hot earnings streak to extend into 2026, citing severe supply constraints across memory products including mainstream DRAM. As major cloud service providers rush to secure memory components for AI data centers, prices of HBM, DRAM, and NAND all continue to push north. Financial data provider FnGuide estimates Samsung Electronics’ 2026 operating profit will exceed 80 trillion won ($54.3 billion), while SK hynix’s is forecast at 73.24 trillion won ($49.7 billion). The projections suggest the two Korean companies are heading into one of the most profitable stretches in global semiconductor history. “Samsung has reportedly raised contract prices for server DRAM by 60 percent to 80 percent in the fourth quarter,” said Kim Dong-won, head of research at KB Securities. “Despite these steep hikes, many customers other than big tech companies haven’t been able to secure sufficient supply since November, suggesting prices will continue to climb aggressively.” The surge in chip demand is likely to intensify as Google’s latest AI model, Gemini 3.0, equipped with Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), enters direct competition with Nvidia’s GPUs. Analysts say the rise of such new architectures signals an expansion of the semiconductor market and sustained demand for high-performance memory chips. 2025-12-09 16:54:02
  • For South Korean stars, fame comes with a lasting moral burden
    For South Korean stars, fame comes with a lasting moral burden SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - Comedian Park Na-rae has become the latest South Korean celebrity to disappear from public view after failing to withstand the country’s notoriously unforgiving ethical expectations for public figures. After a monthlong barrage of online criticism and allegations of workplace mistreatment from former managers, Park announced Monday she would “step away” from entertainment until the controversy is fully resolved. Her departure leaves a slate of major shows abruptly vacant — including MBC’s “I Live Alone” and “Where Is My Home,” tvN’s “Amazing Saturday,” and JTBC’s YouTube series “Narae-sik.” MBC also canceled production of its upcoming variety program “I’m Excited Too,” which had planned to feature Park as a lead. The scandal escalated after entertainment outlet Dispatch reported Thursday that Park’s former managers filed a provisional seizure application against her property at the Seoul Western District Court and are preparing a damages suit, citing alleged workplace bullying, verbal abuse, “special assault,” and improper requests such as picking up medical prescriptions. Park’s fall comes amid a widening wave of celebrity reckonings. Just days earlier, actor Cho Jin-woong admitted he spent time in a juvenile detention center for crimes committed as a teenager — a revelation that immediately put the airing of tvN’s highly anticipated “Signal 2” in doubt despite the series already being completed. Comedian Cho Se-ho is also under intense scrutiny after online posts linked him to an organization behind illegal online gambling operations. A Fame Economy Built on Morality The swift collapses reflect something deeply embedded in South Korean popular culture: celebrities are expected to embody a standard of moral cleanliness that far exceeds that of ordinary citizens. A 2024 Korea Research survey found: 71 percent of Koreans consider entertainers to be public figures, second only to politicians (90%). Nearly 9 in 10 expect celebrities to demonstrate modesty and good manners, 88 percent believe the public has a right to know about alleged drug use or involvement in illegal sex trade, 82 percent say infidelity or bullying should be exposed, and more than 75 percent say even “minor offenses” such as public drunkenness justify public disclosure. This moral rigor is part of what Professor Shim Seok-tae, chair of the Korean Society for Media Law and professor at Semyung Graduate School of Journalism, calls “a society that consumes morality.” “Entertainers make a living off people’s curiosity. Popularity isn’t a right — it’s something they earn and must maintain,” Shim said. “The more they attract attention, the more people feel entitled to know about them. It’s a form of voluntary exposure.” He notes that modern entertainment — reality TV, vlogs, Instagram — thrives on curated intimacy. Home tours, daily routines, and personal confessions become commodities, blurring the boundary between private and public selves. “It’s hard to say public interest in their private lives is always wrong,” Shim added. “The problem is excess — when coverage becomes invasive rather than relevant to their public image or work.” The Higher the Fame, the Heavier the Fall The moral demand is not merely theoretical. It has produced devastating consequences. Actor Lee Sun-kyun, celebrated globally for his role in Parasite, took his own life in 2023 amid a ferocious media storm over drug allegations — a sharp rupture from the “gentle, earnest” persona he embodied in “My Mister.” Cho Jin-woong’s case carries cultural weight of its own. “Cho wasn’t an ordinary actor — he is associated with works tied to Korea’s independence fighters,” Shim noted, implying that the moral expectations rise further when a star’s repertoire intertwines with national narrative. South Koreans also do not easily forgive or forget: Actress Kim Min-hee has not appeared in commercial films or advertisements since her affair with director Hong Sang-soo became public in 2016. Actor Yoo Ah-in has been unable to work domestically for nearly three years due to ongoing drug-related investigations. In each case, an individual controversy transformed into a career-halting judgment rendered by the broader public. Cultural Identity, Trust, and K-pop’s Global Legacy At its core, Korea’s moral scrutiny reflects deeper questions about representation, aspiration, and trust. Celebrities here are not treated merely as entertainers; they are brand ambassadors, moral symbols, and often extensions of a collective national identity. This perception has long underpinned K-pop’s universal appeal — discipline, civility, decency, and emotional intelligence — values that are marketed globally as quintessentially Korean. But the double-edged sword is evident. “Our society’s double standards are part of the problem,” Shim said. “We consume scandal like entertainment, yet insist the entertainers themselves remain spotless. The same attention that creates stars can also kill them.” In an economy of fame where intimacy is currency and morality is a performance, the price of being famous in South Korea remains extraordinarily high — and increasingly, unsustainable. 2025-12-08 17:59:32
  • KOSPI closes higher on LGES battery deal while Chinese and Japanese markets stay flat
    KOSPI closes higher on LGES battery deal while Chinese and Japanese markets stay flat SEOUL, December 8 (AJP) - The South Korean stock market saw gains on Monday, while other major Asian markets including Japan and China, remained flat. South Korea's benchmark KOSPI rose 1.3 percent to close at 4,154.85, while the junior KOSDAQ edged up 0.3 percent to finish at 927.79. Memory chip giant Samsung Electronics gained 0.9 percent, closing at 109,400 won (US$75), and rival SK hynix rose 5.2 percent to 573,000 won. LG Energy Solution, the third-largest company in terms of market capitalization, climbed 5.6 percent to 450,000 won, apparently buoyed by its announcement of signing a major supply deal with German automaker Mercedes-Benz AG worth 2.06 trillion won ($1.4 billion). The deal, which covers markets including North America and Europe, will run from March 2028 to June 2035. Despite the overall rise of KOSPI, stocks of major talent mills all declined, with HYBE falling 0.3 percent to 289,000 won, JYP Entertainment 1.2 percent to 67,600 won, SM Entertainment 2.3 percent to 102,000 won, and YG Entertainment 1 percent to 61,500 won. Notably, eco-friendly battery maker EcoPro's stock hit a new 52-week high during mid-trading, which many speculated was driven by the anticipated move of the tech-heavy KOSDAQ's top-ranked Alteogen to the KOSPI. This sparked investor interest in the No. 2 and No. 3 stocks — EcoPro BM and EcoPro — as they were expected to become the next leading stocks. EcoPro BM surged 8.5 percent to 173,300 won, while its holding company, EcoPro, jumped 21.3 percent to 117,500 won. Meanwhile, in Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.2 percent to 50,581.94. Among major Japanese firms, Toyota rose 0.9 percent to 3,060 yen ($20), and Hitachi gained 0.6 percent to 4,911 yen. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Japan's second-largest company by market value, fell 1.2 percent to 2,498.5 yen. SoftBank dropped 3.3 percent to 18,655 yen, and Sony edged down 0.7 percent to 4,300 yen. Looking at other major market players, Nintendo fell 1.4 percent to 12,320 yen, Honda rose 0.6 percent to 1,528.5 yen, and Canon gained 1.0 percent, ending at 4,576 yen. In China, the Shanhai Composite Index gained 0.5 percent to 3,924.08. 2025-12-08 17:58:33
  • Koreas LGES lands $1.4 bn EV battery deal with Mercedes-Benz
    Korea's LGES lands $1.4 bn EV battery deal with Mercedes-Benz SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - South Korea's top battery maker LG Energy Solution (LGES) has signed a 2.06 trillion won ($1.4 billion) electric-vehicle battery supply contract with Mercedes-Benz AG, extending the company’s streak of securing multi-billion-dollar global deals this year as automakers race to lock in long-term cell capacity. According to LGES’ regulatory filing on Monday, the contract covers battery supply to Mercedes-Benz from March 2028 through June 2035, spanning both Europe and North America, the two fastest-growing EV markets. The deal amounts to roughly 8 percent of LGES’ latest annual revenue of 25.62 trillion won, based on its 2024 consolidated financial statements. At 10:10 a.m. shares of LGES jumped 4.5 percent to 445,000 won($303), far outperforming KOSPI gain of 0.2 percent. LGES said the contract value, translated at the exchange rate of 1,471.5 won per dollar on Dec. 5, may be adjusted as details, including total volume and duration, remain subject to further negotiation with the German automaker. The agreement contains no upfront deposits or advance payments, the filing added. The Mercedes-Benz deal adds to a series of multibillion-dollar contracts LG Energy Solution has secured in 2025, underscoring its strengthened global positioning as the EV market bifurcates between premium automakers and cost-driven Chinese competitors. LGED maintains third rank in global EV battery market, following Chinese behemoths CATL and BYD. Its share however dropped to 9.3 percent as of October this year from 11.1 percent in the same period a year ago, according to Korean market research firm SNE Research. Major LGES contracts announced so far this year include $4.3 billion battery supply deal with an undisclosed party in the United States in July, presumed to be Tesla, aside from exclusive U.S supply contracts with Hyundai Motor Group, Honda Motor, and General Motors. 2025-12-08 10:23:41
  • Quiet flight from Coupang after data breach deepens pain for small vendors
    Quiet flight from Coupang after data breach deepens pain for small vendors SEOUL, December 05 (AJP) - Fallout from Coupang’s massive data breach is widening beyond consumers to tens of thousands of small vendors across South Korea who rely on the e-commerce giant as a primary sales channel and livelihood. The National Assembly Science and ICT Committee has scheduled another hearing on Dec. 17 to examine a growing number of complaints against Coupang, including difficulties in canceling subscriptions or discontinuing platform use. Lawmakers say the scale and sensitivity of the data leak — which affected nearly all of Coupang’s 34 million users — warrant continued scrutiny. Market researcher IGAWorks showed that Coupang’s daily active users, which had hovered around 18 million before the breach, slipped to 17.8 million but have so far remained above the 17 million mark. Instead of a mass exodus, industry data suggest a “silent boycott”: customers reducing their use of Coupang for daily shopping or avoiding Coupang Eats for food delivery due to loss of trust. That shift has delivered a sharp blow to vendors and dining partners. A café owner in Gwangju said delivery orders via Coupang Eats “dropped to zero,” with daily sales falling more than 20 percent from a week earlier. A seafood company selling primarily through Coupang reported a more than 30 percent slide in revenue. According to Coupang’s internal “Impact Report 2025,” released in September, the company serviced around 230,000 small businesses as of 2023 — roughly 75 percent of all its vendors — generating a combined 12 trillion won ($8.2 billion) in annual transactions. The data leak now exposes them to a double shock: plunging sales and anxiety over potential compromise of business information. “I’m massively anxious. I changed all my business account passwords, but it feels like they’ve already been stolen,” said the owner of a Korean beef stew shop in downtown Seoul. “Coupang Eats accounts for a large proportion of my orders, so even if I want to quit, I can’t. It used to be about 50–50 between Baemin and Coupang Eats, but now it’s closer to 45–55 because more customers use Coupang Eats.” Holding up a text alert from the platform, she added, “Coupang said a delivery address was leaked. I panicked. I deleted my personal account, but I can’t delete my business account — how else can I run my shop?” A Coupang executive, speaking anonymously to AJP, said vendor information is stored in a separate system that “shows no abnormal signs,” and stressed that partner data remains protected. Other shop owners said Coupang Eats’ appeal makes it difficult to exit despite safety concerns. “Customers prefer Coupang. Baemin assigns riders through its system, which takes more time. Coupang uses individual drivers, so deliveries are faster,” said one operator. Coupang Eats has expanded rapidly this year, leveraging its ultra-fast delivery model and free deliveries for Coupang subscribers. It held a 37.6 percent market share in the food-delivery sector, trailing No. 1 Baemin’s 56.7 percent. “We live in a paradox,” said Lee Joong-seon, secretary-general of the National Franchise Owners Association. “Even when sales are high, small business owners make little profit because of the massive commission fees charged by platforms like Coupang and Baemin. When sales are low, life gets harder. Either way, we lose. And now, after the Coupang data leak, it feels like insult upon injury.” The Korean Federation of Micro Enterprises said it plans to collect vendor complaints and prepare for collective legal action if needed, according to member Ryu Pil-seon. Meanwhile, consumer frustrations continue to mount. On Coupang’s PC version, account deletion requires a six-step process, including personal-information verification and a mandatory survey — a design critics say reflects the broader difficulty of disengaging from the platform even amid a crisis of confidence. 2025-12-05 16:58:48
  • Asian stocks mostly down early Friday ahead of FOMC week
    Asian stocks mostly down early Friday ahead of FOMC week SEOUL, December 05 (AJP) - Asian stocks were mostly lower in early Friday trading as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of next week’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting, which is expected to set the tone for U.S. rate policy in 2025. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI rose 0.5 percent to 4,047.41, while the KOSDAQ slipped 0.7 percent to 923.70 as of 10:05 a.m. Samsung Electronics gained 1.9 percent to 107,050 won ($72.8), whereas SK hynix fell 0.7 percent to 538,000 won. Large-caps were broadly higher. LG Energy Solution, the market’s third-largest stock, advanced 3.1 percent to 422,500 won, and Hyundai Motor jumped 6.4 percent to 301,750 won. Hyundai Motor surpassed its previous intraday record of 299,000 won set on January 11, 2021, extending a four-day rally after Washington confirmed a retroactive reduction in tariffs on Korean auto imports to 15 percent. Samsung Biologics, the fourth-largest by market value, declined 1.4 percent to 1,656,000 won. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.4 percent to 50,329.03. Among the country’s three largest firms by market capitalization, Toyota Motor declined 2.3 percent to 3,033 yen ($19.6); Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group dropped 0.9 percent to 2,492 yen; and Sony Group slid 2 percent to 4,328 yen. As of 10:40 a.m., 39 of the top 40 large-cap stocks were down, with SoftBank Group the sole gainer, rising 1.7 percent to 18,510 yen. In China, the Shanghai Composite Index slipped 0.2 percent to 3,867.04, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.6 percent to 25,787.66. 2025-12-05 11:47:07
  • Asian market mostly flat early Thursday, KOSDAQ stands out
    Asian market mostly flat early Thursday, KOSDAQ stands out SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - Asian equities were mostly flat in early Thursday trading as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of next week’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting in the United States. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI slipped 0.5 percent to 4,017.89, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ surged 9.2 percent to 934.21 as of 9:01 a.m. The secondary market’s total capitalization topped the 500-trillion-won level for the first time, buoyed by reports that the government is preparing a stimulus package aimed at smaller-cap and growth stocks. Selling by both foreign and institutional investors weighed on the main board. Foreign investors unloaded 259 billion won ($176 million) worth of shares, and institutions sold a net 107.6 billion won. Retail investors stepped in as net buyers of 362.8 billion won. Samsung Electronics slipped 0.8 percent to 103,700 won and SK hynix fell 2.5 percent to 538,500 won. Large-cap names showed mixed performance: LG Energy Solution eased 0.1 percent to 417,500 won, KB Financial declined 1 percent to 130,400 won and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries lost 0.9 percent to 529,000 won. Hyundai Motor gained 3.8 percent to 276,500 won, Doosan Enerbility rose 1.8 percent to 79,800 won and Kia added 0.3 percent to 119,000 won. Entertainment shares were weaker across the sector. HYBE slipped 0.8 percent to 293,500 won, JYP Entertainment dipped 0.2 percent to 68,500 won, SM Entertainment fell 0.4 percent to 104,000 won and YG Entertainment eased 0.2 percent to 62,800 won. U.S. stocks closed higher Wednesday as fresh data pointed to cooling labor-market conditions. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.9 percent to 47,882.90, the S&P 500 gained 0.3 percent to 6,849.72 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.2 percent to 23,454.09. Private-sector employment fell by 32,000 in November, according to ADP, sharply missing expectations for a 10,000 increase. Sentiment was dented somewhat by reports that Microsoft trimmed its revenue outlook for artificial-intelligence-related businesses. “Signs of weaker employment and easing inflation are reinforcing expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut,” said Lee Sung-hoon, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities. He noted that growth shares, particularly in biosciences, typically benefit from lower interest rates, although the Korean market failed to reflect that trend at the open. Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 0.5 percent to 50,105.72. Toyota Motor rose 0.2 percent to 3,012 yen ($19.4), Honda Motor gained 0.9 percent to 1,516 yen and Nissan Motor added 0.5 percent to 364 yen, sending the country’s automakers modestly higher. SoftBank Group advanced 3 percent to 17,175 yen, Sony Group rose 0.4 percent to 4,407 yen and Nintendo gained 0.9 percent to 12,765 yen. In China, the Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.1 percent to 3,881.55, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.1 percent to 25,728.64. 2025-12-04 11:40:56