Calls grow for legal action against MBK Partners over Homeplus crisis A Homeplus outlet/ Courtesy of Homeplus SEOUL, March 7 (AJP) - South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party has called for legal action against MBK Partners, a private equity firm, after its portfolio company, Homeplus, unexpectedly filed for court-supervised rehabilitation, alleging fraudulent intent. “It has been confirmed that Homeplus was selling corporate bonds to both institutional and individual investors right up until they entered the corporate rehabilitation process,” Cho Seung-rae, the party’s chief spokesperson, said in a statement, Thursday. The opposition party accused MBK Partners, Homeplus’ majority shareholder, of attempting to abscond with assets after years of financially strained, overleveraged management. “If they are trying to dismantle Homeplus and escape under the pretext of corporate rehabilitation, such actions cannot be tolerated,” Cho said. Drawing parallels to the 2012 case of LIG Construction — whose executives faced criminal charges for selling commercial paper despite impending bankruptcy — the Democratic Party insisted that MBK Partners should face similar judicial scrutiny. The party also sharply criticized government regulators, accusing them of failing to exercise proper oversight. It called for an immediate investigation to minimize investor losses and to “bring down the hammer of justice on MBK and management’s moral hazard.” Homeplus, one of Korea’s leading retail chains, filed for court-supervised debt rehabilitation on Tuesday, sending shockwaves through an industry already reeling from financial instability. The move follows last July’s crisis involving e-commerce platforms Tmon and WeMakePrice, which also struggled with liquidity issues. MBK Partners has not publicly commented on the accusations. 2025-03-07 10:26:48

Instant noodles lead South Korea's surging food exports SEOUL, March 6 (AJP) - South Korea's food exports have doubled over the past decade, reaching $7.02 billion last year, with instant noodles driving the growth, seeing an impressive annual increase of 20.1 percent. According to a report released on Wednesday by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), food exports have maintained an average annual increase of 8 percent since 2015, with a slight surge in the last five years. Instant noodles dominated exports with $1.36 billion in sales last year, becoming the country's mainstay export item with a 20.6 percent share of the global market, followed by ready-to-eat meals, beverages, health supplements, and grocery ingredients like condiments. The U.S. remains the top export destination for South Korean products, while exports to Southeast Asian nations like Vietnam and the Philippines have grown significantly. "The growing influence of the Korean Wave, coupled with the latest trend for health-conscious food, has fueled interest in South Korean products across American and Southeast Asian markets," said Moon Jung-hoon, a professor at Seoul National University. He added that, amid major U.S. warehouse retail chains like Costco taking in more South Korean food items, the expansion of franchise outlets, along with enhanced local marketing efforts, has bolstered the global presence of South Korean products. It remains uncertain how U.S. President Donald Trump's aggressive tariff policies will shape the global trade environment this year, but the KCCI vowed to leverage the emerging popularity of South Korean cuisine overseas to further diversify export destinations and product portfolios. 2025-03-06 17:00:45

Tax office investigates political YouTubers for potential tax evasion Getty Images Bank SEOUL, March 6 (AJP) - South Korea’s National Tax Service (NTS) has begun scrutinizing political YouTubers over potential tax evasion, following concerns raised in the National Assembly regarding their fundraising practices. “If specific evidence of tax evasion is detected through financial intelligence data and foreign exchange transaction records, we plan to respond with rigorous tax audits,” an NTS official said. Despite ongoing monitoring, the agency has yet to launch formal investigations, citing difficulties in confirming bank account details and identifying individuals involved in the suspected activities. The scrutiny comes as politically charged YouTube broadcasts have proliferated in the aftermath of the country’s recent martial law crisis, with content creators engaging in fierce competition for viewer donations. Under current regulations, digital content creators who generate income through regular video production are required to register as business operators and file comprehensive income tax returns. All monetary contributions — whether received via "super chats" or bank transfers labeled as "voluntary subscriptions" — are subject to taxation, regardless of how they are classified by the recipients. Opposition lawmaker Cha Gyu-geun, who introduced amendments to the Income Tax Act last December to clarify taxation rules for digital content creators, expressed concern that escalating competition for donations is fueling increasingly provocative content. “As the tax authority has now announced plans to conduct tax audits when evidence of evasion is found, we must pass income tax law amendments to establish clear legal grounds,” Cha said. 2025-03-06 11:23:53

South Korea to set up 50 trillion won fund to support high-tech industries Government policy briefing March. 5, 2025/ Yonhap SEOUL, March 6 (AJP) - The South Korean government plans to inject 50 trillion won ($34.6 billion) over the next five years into key high-tech industries, including semiconductors, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence, through a newly established strategic fund. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, will be managed within the state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB). The fund will be financed through government-guaranteed bonds, marking a significant push to strengthen the nation’s position in critical industries. “When matched with private capital, the fund will generate about twice the support effect,” an official from the Financial Services Commission’s industrial finance division said. “As a subordinated investor, the fund will help mitigate risks for private banks, providing a strong incentive for their participation.” The initiative will target ten strategic sectors: semiconductors, secondary batteries, displays, biotechnology, defense, vaccines, robotics, hydrogen, future vehicles, and artificial intelligence. Unlike conventional industrial subsidies, the fund will deploy a variety of financial mechanisms, including ultra-low-interest loans pegged to government bond rates and equity investments through special-purpose companies (SPCs) designed for long-term infrastructure and technology development. For industries requiring large-scale production facilities — such as semiconductor fabrication plants — the KDB will establish SPCs in partnership with recipient companies, maintaining partial ownership stakes in these ventures. Additionally, the fund will support export-oriented defense firms that possess advanced technology but have faced challenges in securing international contracts due to financial constraints. The government aims to submit amendments to the Korea Development Bank Act later this month, with the goal of providing financial support to domestic firms by year’s end. Kang Ki-ryong, director of the policy coordination bureau at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, expressed confidence in the initiative’s swift implementation. “We hope that the bill and the guarantee approval will pass promptly, allowing the fund to deliver tangible support within this year,” Kang said. 2025-03-06 11:13:30

Trump vows to abolish CHIPS Act, criticizes South Korea on tariffs U.S. President Donald Trump addresses Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 2025. Reuters-Yonhap SEOUL, March 5 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to dismantle the CHIPS Act during his first address to Congress since beginning his second term, while alleging that South Korea imposes tariffs on American goods at rates "four times higher" than those levied by the U.S. "The CHIPS Act is a horrible, horrible thing," Trump said. "We give hundreds of billions of dollars, and it doesn't mean a thing. They take our money, and they don't spend it." His remarks came just a day after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced a $100 billion investment to expand semiconductor production in Arizona. The plan includes three new chip plants, two chip-packaging facilities, and a research and development center. The CHIPS Act, passed under the Biden administration in 2022, allocated $52 billion in subsidies to bolster domestic semiconductor manufacturing. Among its beneficiaries were Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, with Samsung securing a contract for up to $4.75 billion in direct subsidies last December. "You should get rid of the CHIPS Act, and whatever is left over, Mr. Speaker, you should use it to reduce debt," Trump said, reaffirming his intent to eliminate the legislation supporting chip manufacturers in the U.S. The president also announced plans to establish a White House division focused on shipbuilding and introduce tax incentives aimed at revitalizing the American shipbuilding industry. "We used to make so many ships. We don’t make them anymore, very much," he said. While he did not specify the financial incentives the office would provide or its precise role, he added, "But we’re going to make them very fast, very soon. It will have a huge impact." Trump also made contested claims about South Korean tariffs, stating, "South Korea's average tariff is four times higher. Think of that — four times higher — and we give so much help militarily and in so many other ways to South Korea. But that's what happens. This is happening by friend and foe." However, recent data from South Korean trade authorities indicate that the country’s effective tariff rate on U.S. imports stood at approximately 0.79 percent last year. Industrial goods imported from the U.S. are subject to zero tariffs under the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. Additionally, Trump announced that South Korea, Japan, and other nations would invest "trillions of dollars" in a liquefied natural gas pipeline project in Alaska. "It’s all set to go. The permitting has gotten," he said, though he did not elaborate. While South Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy, Ahn Duk-geun, discussed the project with U.S. officials during his recent visit to Washington, no formal commitments have been made. "We will actively engage in discussions with the United States moving forward, as it is a matter of mutual interest to both countries," a ministry official said. 2025-03-05 15:50:18

MBK Partners blamed for Homeplus crisis A Homeplus employee works at a branch, March 4, 2025. Yonhap SEOUL, March 5 (AJP) - MBK Partners, the private equity firm that acquired Homeplus in 2015 through a leveraged buyout, is facing criticism as the South Korean retail giant filed for court-supervised debt rehabilitation on Tuesday. The move, citing short-term liquidity concerns, has intensified scrutiny over MBK’s management strategy, which left the retailer burdened with heavy debt. Homeplus, which generates annual revenue exceeding 7 trillion won (US$4.8 billion), said it sought bankruptcy protection to “alleviate the burden of immediate debt repayments” after recent credit rating downgrades threatened its ability to meet supplier payments due in May. Industry analysts point to what they call a textbook case of the “winner’s curse,” where MBK’s 7.2 trillion won acquisition was financed with about 5 trillion won in debt, leading to years of financial distress for Homeplus. Since 2021, the retailer has suffered consecutive operating losses — 133.5 billion won in 2021, 260.2 billion won in 2022, and 199.4 billion won in 2023. It reported a net loss of 574.3 billion won last year, marking its third straight year in the red. While traditional retailers have faced increasing competition from e-commerce, critics argue that MBK exacerbated Homeplus’s decline by failing to make necessary investments while prioritizing debt repayments. To service its acquisition debt, MBK sold approximately 20 Homeplus stores and leased them back — a strategy that added to the retailer’s financial burden rather than alleviating it. “The problem is not just market conditions but MBK’s financial engineering,” said a retail industry analyst. “They extracted value without reinvesting in the business.” Labor unions claim that since MBK’s takeover, Homeplus has incurred 3.1 trillion won in interest expenses from 2016 to 2023, a figure that dwarfs the company’s total operating profit of 471.3 billion won over the same period. Job cuts and dwindling investments have also eroded competitiveness, further compounding the retailer’s woes. “If they filed for receivership without defaulting, simply to reduce or restructure their debt, then MBK has a moral problem as the controlling shareholder,” said an industry insider. The filing comes despite Homeplus not yet having defaulted on payments. However, the company has already deferred 350 billion won in supplier payments, offering interest on late settlements. According to Korea Investors Service, Homeplus’ net debt reached 5.31 trillion won as of late November 2024, with a debt-to-equity ratio surging to 1,408.6 percent despite capital increases from land revaluations. The company’s outstanding financial obligations include 1.2 trillion won borrowed from Meritz Financial Group, 110 billion won in bank loans, and 250 billion won in commercial paper, amounting to around 2 trillion won in total liabilities. The broader retail sector has been rattled by Homeplus’s court filing, which comes amid growing financial instability in the industry. In July last year, e-commerce platforms Tmon and WeMakePrice both suffered major settlement defaults, adding to concerns over the financial health of South Korea’s retail sector. Some Homeplus suppliers are now considering debt collection procedures over unpaid invoices. 2025-03-05 14:57:50

Seeking to counter China, US looks to South Korea for naval shipbuilding Guided missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51)/ Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of stories examining how the Trump administration’s economic policies affect South Korea's key industries. From trade restrictions to shifting global supply chains, we explore the challenges businesses faced, how they adapted, and the lasting effects on the country’s economy. SEOUL, March 4 (AJP) - As the Trump administration presses ahead with its "Make America Great Again" agenda, the White House is looking to bolster the United States’ waning maritime supremacy — with an eye on South Korea. The U.S. shipbuilding industry has been in decline for decades, a trend set in motion by the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, known as the Jones Act, which fostered monopolies among domestic shipbuilders and eroded global competitiveness. Further restrictions, including the Byrnes-Tollefson Amendment of the 1960s, mandated that military ships and critical components be constructed domestically, exacerbating the sector’s stagnation. Meanwhile, China has tightened its grip on global shipbuilding, accounting for about 60 percent of worldwide orders in 2023. Analysts say that by the end of last year, China had surpassed the United States in total fleet size, fielding 234 vessels to the U.S. Navy’s 219. With domestic ship production amounting to just 0.4 percent of China’s annual output, Washington is turning to allies with robust shipbuilding capabilities. The administration has also announced plans to levy hefty fees on Chinese vessels entering U.S. ports, citing supply chain risks. A Navy frigate (FFX-I)/ Courtesy of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries South Korea, which led the global shipbuilding market in January 2025 with 62 percent of total compensated gross tons (CGTs) for 13 shipbuilding orders, has emerged as a key partner in the U.S. maritime revival. In a call on Nov. 7, Trump asked President Yoon Suk Yeol to strengthen cooperation not only in ship exports but also in maintenance, repair, and operations. One company at the center of these efforts is Hanwha Ocean, which recently acquired Philadelphia Shipyard through its subsidiary Hanwha Systems. Hanwha has secured two maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) contracts with the U.S. Navy, including work on the 40,000-ton dry-cargo ship Wally Schirra and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s Yukon — developments that have heightened interest in the firm’s role. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is also reportedly exploring investment opportunities in the United States. The company, which entered the MRO sector in 2022 through work with the Philippine Navy, is now considering investment in U.S. shipyards to expand its foothold. Both Hanwha and Hyundai secured Master Ship Repair Agreements (MSRAs) with the U.S. Naval Supply Systems Command this year, though these contracts remain limited to MRO. A new bill introduced by Republican senators on Feb. 5 could change that, potentially allowing the Pentagon to contract naval shipbuilding to allies with mutual defense treaties or NATO member states — an opening that could position South Korea as a builder of U.S. military vessels. The U.S. aims to construct 364 new warships by 2054, an effort estimated to cost $1.075 trillion, in a bid to counter China’s growing maritime power. Beyond naval projects, South Korean shipbuilders specializing in liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers are also anticipating a market boom as the U.S. tightens restrictions on Chinese shipyards. Industry leaders, including HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, Samsung Heavy Industries, and Hanwha Ocean, posted collective operating profits in 2024. With environmental regulations tightening and tariffs looming over Chinese-made vessels, analysts predict further gains for South Korean firms. Signs of this shift are already evident: German shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd is reportedly in the final stages of a $1.2 billion deal with Hanwha Ocean for six LNG dual-fuel container ships, choosing the South Korean firm over Chinese competitors, according to the shipping trade journal TradeWinds. Diplomatic engagements further underscore the sector’s importance. South Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy, Ahn Duk-geun, recently met with senior Trump administration officials to discuss shipbuilding cooperation, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is expected to visit Seoul in late March to advance talks. Even as Trump's 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports remain in place, South Korea and the United States have agreed to establish a consultative group to explore tariff measures and deepen cooperation in shipbuilding. 2025-03-05 10:37:49

Trump will pursue US dominance in expanding space economy: Korean institute Elon Musk listens to U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House in Washington D.C., Feb. 11, 2025. Reuters-Yonhap SEOUL, March 5 (AJP) - The Trump administration is expected to pursue an aggressive expansion of the United States’ role in the growing space economy, particularly in the Earth-Moon-Mars sphere, according to a report from South Korea’s science and technology policy institute. The Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP), in a briefing released on Feb. 28, indicated that a renewed Trump presidency would likely reinforce policies emphasizing space commercialization and military capabilities — initiatives that took root during his first term. A focal point of these efforts, the report suggests, will be manned exploration of Mars. “Trump’s second-term space policy is expected to solidify the ‘commercialization of space’ and ‘strengthening of space military power’ policies that began during his first term,” the report states, predicting that the U.S. will seek to “secure overwhelming dominance” in the space economy as Mars exploration gains momentum. The report anticipates a shift in leadership within American space programs, with private enterprises such as Elon Musk’s SpaceX playing an increasingly central role. Federal agencies, including NASA, could see their objectives recalibrated, while government-backed initiatives like the Space Launch System may undergo significant revisions as the private sector’s influence expands. Musk’s potential sway within the Trump administration is highlighted as a key driver of corporate involvement in national space initiatives, potentially reshaping lunar exploration programs that have been a cornerstone of U.S. space ambitions in recent years. For South Korea, the KISTEP report underscores the importance of maintaining strong cooperative ties with Washington while exploring opportunities to participate in emerging initiatives, such as human Mars exploration. Researchers also suggest that Seoul should seek to engage the U.S. in Korean-led space exploration projects, aiming to elevate bilateral cooperation in the face of increasing military and strategic interests in space. South Korea has been a longstanding U.S. ally in space exploration. In October 2024, the country signed a research agreement with NASA, three years after joining the Artemis Accords — non-binding multilateral arrangements spearheaded by the U.S. to foster international collaboration in space activities. 2025-03-05 10:12:20

XXIO, Srixon club importer fined for price-fixing Golf clubs/ Getty Images Bank SEOUL, March 4 (AJP) - South Korea’s antitrust regulator has imposed a fine of 18.6 billion won ($12.8 million) on Dunlop Sports Korea for preventing retailers from offering discounts on its golf clubs. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) found that Dunlop, which imports and distributes Japanese golf brands including XXIO and Srixon, had enforced minimum selling prices between 2020 and 2023, threatening dealers with supply cuts, financial penalties, and contract terminations if they failed to comply. According to the commission, the company deployed undercover investigators posing as customers to monitor compliance, conducting these covert inspections as many as nine times annually. Dunlop also pressured retailers not to resell products to unauthorized dealers, a practice regulators deemed an illegal restriction on price competition. Retailers caught violating the pricing policy faced immediate consequences, including disruptions in the supply of popular models and reductions in financial support, the FTC said. “This action will promote free price competition among golf retailers,” an FTC official said. “We expect consumers will now be able to purchase golf clubs at more affordable prices.” The penalty underscores the regulator’s stricter approach following a 2009 case involving six golf equipment sellers engaged in similar price-fixing practices. At the time, Dunlop avoided detection. 2025-03-04 13:17:04

Korea launches alternative stock trading system, extends trading hours to 12 Nextrade office in Yeouido, Seoul/ Yonhap SEOUL, March 4 (AJP) - South Korea’s first alternative stock trading system, Nextrade (NXT), made its debut on Tuesday, extending stock trading hours to 12 hours daily and offering investors the flexibility to trade during commuting hours. Founded by the Korea Financial Investment Association in collaboration with major securities firms, NXT will initially facilitate trading for 10 stocks, with plans to expand to 800 within a month. The platform operates from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., significantly widening the window for investors compared to the Korea Exchange’s traditional schedule of 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nextrade’s extended hours feature a pre-market session from 8 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. and an after-market session from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. This structure allows traders to react more swiftly to global financial developments occurring outside regular market hours. In a bid to attract investors, Nextrade offers transaction fees that are 20 to 40 percent lower than those of the Korea Exchange. Maker orders are subject to a fee of 0.0013 percent of transaction value, while taker orders are charged 0.0018 percent — both undercutting the Korea Exchange’s flat fee of 0.0023 percent. Of the 32 securities firms planning to join Nextrade, 28 have committed to participating from the first day, collectively accounting for 87.4 percent of last year’s brokerage market share by transaction value. The initial lineup of tradable stocks includes five from the benchmark KOSPI index — Lotte Shopping, Cheil Worldwide, Kolon Industries, LG Uplus, and S-Oil — as well as five from the KOSDAQ market — Golfzon, Dongkook Pharmaceutical, SFA Engineering, YG Entertainment, and Com2uS. 2025-03-04 13:12:15