Journalist

Yoo Joonha
  • Korean stocks slip as foreign investors offload $1.34 billion in shares
    Korean stocks slip as foreign investors offload $1.34 billion in shares SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - Korean stocks closed lower Friday, retreating from recent highs as foreign investors led broad-based selling. Lingering geopolitical uncertainty continued to cap risk appetite despite signs of potential de-escalation in the Middle East. Other Asian markets also traded lower, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 falling 1.21 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropping 1.2 percent, and China’s Shanghai Composite edging down 0.2 percent. The benchmark KOSPI fell 0.6 percent to close at 6,191.9, after trading between a high of 6,230.32 and a low of 6,159.88. Foreign investors drove the decline, offloading 1.99 trillion won ($1.34 billion) worth of shares. Retail investors bought 1.44 trillion won, while institutions added 150.1 billion won, indicating continued dip-buying against external outflows. The pullback came as investors reassessed the sustainability of the recent rally, with mixed signals emerging around U.S.-Iran negotiations and a temporary truce between Israel and Lebanon failing to fully stabilize sentiment. Large-cap stocks were broadly weaker, led by semiconductors. Samsung Electronics fell 0.7 percent to 216,000 won, while SK hynix dropped 2.3 percent to 1,128,000 won, reflecting cautious positioning despite overnight gains in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index. Defense and industrial names also came under pressure. Hanwha Aerospace slid 6.3 percent, and Doosan Enerbility lost 2.1 percent, reflecting profit-taking following recent strength in defense-linked plays. Automakers, however, provided limited support. Hyundai Motor rose 0.8 percent, and Kia gained 0.8 percent. Among notable movers, Hanwha Engine surged 16.4 percent to 56,100 won on expectations of earnings growth tied to expanding orders and improving profitability in marine engine segments. The rally was further supported by optimism over the shipbuilding supercycle and strategic overseas acquisitions aimed at strengthening its position in eco-friendly vessel markets. STX Engine also hit its daily upper limit, driven by strong demand tied to defense exports and shipbuilding expansion. Sector-wise, gains were concentrated in selective themes. Venture investment firms jumped 7.7 percent, while electronics equipment and display panel stocks rose 4.1 percent and 3.9 percent, respectively, highlighting rotation into mid-cap growth plays. The KOSDAQ outperformed, rising 0.6 percent to close at 1,170.04, supported by heavy buying from foreign and institutional investors, who added 15.8 billion won and 9.1 billion won, respectively. Retail investors bought a modest 2.5 billion won. Biotech and secondary battery names showed mixed performance. Meanwhile, COVID-19-related stocks gained amid renewed concerns over the global spread of emerging variants, including BA.3.2, supporting selective strength in healthcare names. However, the move was largely thematic and had limited impact on broader market direction. The Korean won weakened against the dollar, trading at 1,483.1 won, down 0.2 percent from the previous session, reflecting sustained external pressure amid foreign outflows. Oil prices edged lower, with Brent crude falling 0.7 percent to $98.7 per barrel and WTI declining 1 percent to $93.7, as optimism over potential negotiations offset ongoing concerns over supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. 2026-04-17 17:31:30
  • K-pop girl group KATSEYE to release new album this summer
    K-pop girl group KATSEYE to release new album this summer SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - Los Angeles-based K-pop girl group KATSEYE will release their new album this summer. According to their agencies HYBE and Geffen Records, their third EP "Wild" is slated for release on Aug. 14, more than a year after their previous mini album "Beautiful Chaos" was released in June last year. KATSEYE, consisting of multinational members, have recently gained traction through appearances at major music festivals like the Coachella Festival in California and other activities to promote their songs. The sextet also topped global music platform Spotify's rankings for most listeners, calculated on a 28-day basis, with 31.3 million as of Friday, followed by another K-pop act BLACKPINK's 24.78 million. That appeared to be attributed to their latest single, "Pinky Up," which has ranked highly on major music charts overseas including Amazon Music, Apple Music and Spotify, within just a few days after its release last Thursday. Formed through the 2023 reality singing competition show "Dream Academy" in collaboration with HYBE and Geffen Records, the six members - Daniela, Lara, Manon, Megan, Sophia and Yoonchae - have been groomed as a K-pop girl group targeting global audiences. 2026-04-17 14:00:47
  • Kpop big 4 unite to launch Coachella-scale Kpop festival 
    Kpop big 4 unite to launch Coachella-scale Kpop festival  SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - South Korea’s K-pop powerhouses — HYBE, SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment and YG Entertainment — are moving to institutionalize a Coachella-style annual K-pop festival, marking a rare joint initiative among the industry’s fiercest rivals. The four agencies have jointly submitted a joint-venture proposal, tentatively titled “Fanomenon” a portmanteau of “fan” and “phenomenon” to the Fair Trade Commission, according to sources on Friday. The initiative has also been tabled at the Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange, a policy advisory body launched in October 2025 and co-chaired by Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young and Park Jin-young, founder of JYP. Park is aiming to debut the festival in South Korea in December 2027 as an annual event, with plans to expand into a global touring format across major cities starting in May 2028. He envisions building the project into a large-scale event on par with the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which spans two weekends and draws more than 120,000 attendees per day. The companies said the project remains under development, with key details on structure, operations and execution yet to be finalized. 2026-04-17 11:25:30
  • KOSPI flirts around record highs amid signs of de-escalating Gulf tensions
    KOSPI flirts around record highs amid signs of de-escalating Gulf tensions SEOUL, April 16 (AJP) -Korean stocks extended gains Thursday, with the benchmark KOSPI hovering near a record close on signs of de-escalating Gulf tensions and renewed institutional buying. The KOSPI rose 2.2 percent to close at 6,226.10, a tad below last record finish of 6,307.27 on Feb. 26. Institutions led the advance, purchasing 1.10 trillion won($746.7 million), while foreign investors added 464.4 billion won. Retail investors sold 1.81 trillion won, locking in gains after recent rallies. Large-cap stocks broadly advanced, led by semiconductors and autos. Samsung Electronics rose 3.1 percent to 217,500 won, supported by renewed foreign buying. SK hynix gained 1.7 percent to 1,155,000 won despite some profit-taking following recent gains. Hyundai Motor jumped 5.1 percent and Kia rose 4.2 percent, extending momentum in auto shares. The strength in chipmakers reflects continued confidence in the memory cycle, as tight inventories and expectations of sharp price increases in DRAM and NAND reinforce earnings visibility. Supply constraints in high bandwidth memory (HBM), driven by surging demand from AI infrastructure, have further strengthened pricing power across the broader semiconductor sector. At the same time, diverging foreign flows between Samsung Electronics and SK hynix suggest growing sensitivity to valuation levels, as investors weigh whether current earnings momentum can be sustained beyond the first quarter. Sector rotation was also evident, with paper and wood products surging 12.2 percent, followed by retail and distribution-related shares, indicating broad-based participation beyond index heavyweights. The KOSDAQ rose 0.9 percent to close at 1,162.97, after trading between 1,168.77 and 1,156.31. Retail investors led buying on the secondary board, purchasing 361.0 billion won, while foreign and institutional investors sold 246.0 billion won and 64.5 billion won, respectively, suggesting continued retail-driven risk appetite. Gains were concentrated in select technology and thematic names. Komico surged 14.5 percent to 151,000 won, while Philoptics jumped 15.2 percent to 45,950 won. Kona I rose 17.1 percent to 71,100 won, and Interflex advanced 7.7 percent to 13,030 won, highlighting strong momentum in high-beta growth and component plays. Global markets provided supportive cues. The Nasdaq Composite rose 1.6 percent and the S&P 500 gained 0.8 percent, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 advanced 2.4 percent and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 1.6 percent. Oil prices remained elevated, with Brent crude holding above $95 per barrel, as markets weighed the possibility of an extended ceasefire between the United States and Iran alongside ongoing supply risks tied to the Strait of Hormuz. The Korean won strengthened slightly against the dollar, with the currency rising to 1,473.1 per dollar, while the VIX volatility index edged lower, signaling easing near-term risk sentiment. 2026-04-16 17:51:44
  • BTS and K-culture boom lift tourist arrivals in Korea to record high Q1
    BTS and K-culture boom lift tourist arrivals in Korea to record high Q1 SEOUL, April 16 (AJP) - Foreign tourist arrivals to South Korea rose to a record high in the first quarter, as global demand for Korean cultural content from highly anticipated K-pop supergroup BTS' return to digital hits like K-pop Demon Hunters continued to drive travel interest, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Wednesday. Inbound visitors reached 4.76 million in the January–March period, up 23 percent from a year earlier, with March alone setting a monthly record of 2.06 million, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The growth was broad-based across key markets. Chinese tourists led with 1.45 million arrivals, followed by Japan at 940,000 and Taiwan at 540,000, the latter posting the fastest growth rate at 37.7 percent. Long-haul travel also gained traction, with visitors from the United States and Europe reaching a combined 690,000, signaling continued diversification of inbound demand. Beyond volume, indicators pointed to improving tourism quality. Cruise traffic rose 52.9 percent on-year to 338 port calls, while arrivals through regional airports surged 49.7 percent, reflecting increased travel beyond major gateways. Spending by foreign visitors climbed 23 percent to 3.21 trillion won, while overall travel satisfaction reached 90.8 points, suggesting stronger consumption and visitor experience. The ministry attributed the growth to the global appeal of K-culture and coordinated efforts between public and private sectors. Kang Jung-won, director general for tourism policy, said Korea is solidifying its position as a global tourism destination, but warned of potential headwinds from rising airfares linked to higher oil prices and geopolitical uncertainty. "We will proactively respond to external risks to sustain the growth of inbound tourism," Kang said. 2026-04-16 11:39:18
  • KOSPI rises on easing Middle East tensions, but falls short of 6,000 threshold
    KOSPI rises on easing Middle East tensions, but falls short of 6,000 threshold SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - The South Korean stock market closed higher on Tuesday, lifted by easing oil prices and signs of diplomatic progress between the U.S. and Iran, though tensions in the Strait of Hormuz kept investors cautious. The country's benchmark KOSPI rose 2.7 percent to close at 5,967.8 after briefly breaking above the 6,000 level in early morning trade. The index repeatedly hovered around the threshold throughout the session but failed to sustain its gains, losing momentum to finish below the psychologically important level. Elsewhere in Asia, markets also closed higher in line with the improved global sentiment. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 2.4 percent to 57,877.4, while China's Shanghai Composite gained 0.7 percent to 4,016.7. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index advanced 0.7 percent to 25,827.9. Investor sentiment was supported by signs of continued talks between Washington and Tehran. While the first set of negotiation over Iran's uranium enrichment program remain unresolved, disagreemtns between the two sides appeared to narrow, with the U.S. proposing a 20-year suspension and Iran countering with a five-year halt. Oil prices declined despite heightened supply risks. Brent crude fell 1.2 percent to US$98.19 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate dropped 3 percent to $96.1, even as U.S. naval forces enforced a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, forcing at least two China-bound oil tankers to turn back. The divergence suggests markets are pricing in a contained conflict scenario rather than an immediate supply disruption. Volatility indicators also pointed to stabilizing risk conditions. The Volatility Index (VIX) edged down 0.6 percent to 19.12, while the dollar index slipped 0.2 percent to 98.2. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) rose 1.7 percent, reinforcing strength in technology shares globally. Institutional and foreign investors drove the rally on the KOSPI, buying a combined 2.08 trillion won ($1.41 billion) worth of shares, while retail investors sold 2.39 trillion won, suggesting profit-taking into strength and contributing to the late-session fade. Among large-cap stocks, Samsung Electronics rose 2.7 percent to 206,500 won, while SK hynix surged 6.1 percent to 1,103,000 won, extending gains on expectations for strong earnings and continued AI-driven demand. Hyundai Motor gained 2.7 percent to 491,500 won, and Kia rose 1.2 percent to 149,200 won. In contrast, battery and defensive shares lagged. LG Energy Solution fell 0.4 percent to 400,000 won, while Samsung Biologics and Hanwha Aerospace declined 0.9 percent to 1,536,000 won and 0.5 percent to 1,523,000 won, respectively. The junior KOSDAQ rose 2.0 percent to 1,121.9, though gains were driven primarily by retail investors, who bought 116.5 billion won, while institutions and foreigners were heavy sellers, offloading 128.9 billion won and 6.7 billion won, respectively, suggesting a more speculative tone. The Korean won strengthened modestly to 1,478.9 per dollar. Overnight, U.S. equities closed higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 0.6 percent, the S&P 500 gaining 1.0 percent and the Nasdaq advancing 1.2 percent, as markets continued to price in the possibility of further diplomatic progress despite the absence of a formal agreement. 2026-04-14 17:58:06
  • Korean stocks fall as Hormuz blockade threat triggers risk-off
    Korean stocks fall as Hormuz blockade threat triggers risk-off SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) — Korean stocks closed lower Monday as investors moved to the sidelines amid fresh uncertainty in the Middle East, following U.S. threats to launch a maritime blockage operation in the Strait of Hormuz starting later in the day. The benchmark KOSPI fell 0.9 percent to 5,808.6, after trading between a high of 5,827.73 and a low of 5,730.23. Regional markets moved in tandem. Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.7 percent and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped 1.2 percent, while China’s Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.06 percent, the only major market in the region to remain in positive territory. Investor positioning reflected a clear shift to risk aversion. Foreign investors sold a net 456.4 billion won ($306.6 million), while institutions offloaded 701.6 billion won. Retail investors absorbed the selling, buying a net 750 billion won. The retreat came as oil prices surged on escalating geopolitical tensions. Brent crude jumped 6.8 percent to $101.6 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate rose 7.3 percent to $103.6, after Washington moved to impose targeted maritime restrictions on vessels linked to Iranian ports following failed weekend negotiations. The escalation followed the collapse of ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, with both sides trading blame for the breakdown, deepening uncertainty over energy supply routes through the Gulf. Large-cap stocks in Seoul were broadly weaker. Samsung Electronics fell 2.4 percent to 201,000 won, Hyundai Motor dropped 2.3 percent to 478,500 won, LG Energy Solution declined 2.6 percent to 401,500 won, and Samsung Biologics slipped 1.3 percent. In contrast, SK hynix rose 1.3 percent to 1,040,000 won, extending gains in line with global semiconductor strength, as the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index advanced 2.3 percent. Hanwha Aerospace also added 1.5 percent. Losses were concentrated in industrial and cyclical sectors. Doosan Enerbility fell 0.9 percent, while the KRX Construction Index dropped 1.6 percent to 1,721.7, as expectations for Middle East reconstruction demand weakened after the diplomatic breakdown. Despite the decline, volatility remained relatively contained. The CBOE Volatility Index fell 1.3 percent to 19.23, suggesting markets are still pricing in a controlled disruption rather than a full-scale supply shock. In currency markets, the won strengthened slightly to 1,488.7 per dollar, while the dollar index rose 0.3 percent to 98.99. The junior KOSDAQ outperformed, rising 0.6 percent to 1,099.8. Retail investors led gains on the secondary board, buying a net 264 billion won, while foreign and institutional investors sold 148.7 billion won and 93.2 billion won, respectively. Sector gains were concentrated in digital infrastructure themes. Optical communication stocks surged 10.5 percent, while telecom equipment and 5G-related shares climbed 10.4 percent and 7.8 percent. Among notable movers, Silicon Two jumped 10.7 percent to 47,200 won, while Pearl Abyss rose 3.1 percent to 57,300 won. EcoPro fell 1.8 percent to 143,700 won, extending weakness in secondary battery shares. 2026-04-13 17:09:57
  • BTS tops Billboard 200 for 3rd week, heads to Japan this week
    BTS tops Billboard 200 for 3rd week, heads to Japan this week SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) -K-pop supergroup BTS wrapped up its three-day concert run in Goyang over the weekend, drawing more than 132,000 attendees, while extending its record as the first Korean act to top the U.S. charts for three consecutive weeks. According to Billboard on Sunday (local time), BTS’ fifth studio album ARIRANG held on to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — the industry’s main weekly albums ranking based on sales, streaming and track-equivalent units — for a third straight week. The album outperformed new releases from Morgan Wallen and Kanye West. The group staged three concerts on April 9, 11 and 12 at Goyang Stadium using a 360-degree, in-the-round setup designed to engage all sides of the venue, attracting a combined 132,000 fans. The opening night on April 9 went ahead despite heavy rain, with fans filling the stadium under umbrellas in the group’s signature purple. The performance concluded without disruption, setting the tone for the remaining shows. Next stop is Tokyo, with performances scheduled at Tokyo Dome on April 17 and 18. The tour marks BTS’ first global tour in six years, underscoring the group’s return to large-scale international performances. Separately, BTS announced an additional global live-viewing event for its Busan concert, scheduled for June 13. The announcement was revealed through a surprise video with a qr code shown during the end credits in theaters following the April 11 live-viewing screening of the Goyang concert. 2026-04-13 09:56:30
  • Asian markets rise as Japan leads gains ahead of Washington-Tehran talks
    Asian markets rise as Japan leads gains ahead of Washington-Tehran talks SEOUL, April 10 (AJP) - Japan leads gains in Asian markets Friday as optimism over planned Washington-Tehran talks lifts risk appetite, even as lingering supply concerns keep sentiment in check. This shift toward diplomatic engagement disrupts the recent pattern of defensive trading, as investors weigh the potential for a breakthrough in the Islamabad summit against persistent geopolitical friction. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 jumped 1.84 percent, led by gains in semiconductor and large-cap stocks following strength in American tech shares. Despite the strong headline gain, broader market breadth remained weak, with declines outnumbering advances on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Prime Market. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI rose 1.4 percent to close at 5,858.9, after touching an intraday high of 5,918.59 and a low of 5,850.83. Foreign investors led the rally, buying 1.1 trillion won, while retail and institutional investors sold 1.23 trillion won and 293.8 billion won, respectively. Sector gains were led by telecom equipment and display panel stocks, which jumped 8.34 percent and 6.8 percent, respectively, while themes such as optical communication and shipping surged more than 12 percent and 9 percent. Among large caps, Samsung Electronics rose 1 percent to 206,000 won, while SK hynix gained 2.9 percent to 1,027,000 won. Hyundai Motor added 2 percent, and Hanwha Aerospace climbed 3.9 percent. In contrast, LG Energy Solution and Samsung Biologics fell. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ gained 1.6 percent to close at 1,093.63, extending gains throughout the session. On the KOSDAQ, institutions bought 93.1 billion won, while individuals and foreign investors sold 82.3 billion won and 1.9 billion won, respectively. The Korean won weakened 0.5 percent to 1,483.9 per dollar. Overnight, major American indexes closed higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq each rising about 0.6 to 0.8 percent. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index advanced 2.1 percent, supporting gains in Seoul chipmakers. Oil prices rose, with Brent crude climbing 1.8 percent to 97.7 dollars a barrel and West Texas Intermediate gaining 1.8 percent to 99.6 dollars, as supply concerns persisted amid tensions in the Middle East. Despite the gains, prices are on track for a weekly decline of more than 10 percent following a Washington-Tehran ceasefire agreement. Meanwhile, the Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index fell 7 percent to 19.57, signaling easing risk sentiment, though it remained elevated enough to suggest lingering caution among investors. 2026-04-10 17:49:01
  • Hanwhas capital playbook under scrutiny as FSS halts Solutions rights offering
    Hanwha's capital playbook under scrutiny as FSS halts Solutions' rights offering SEOUL, April 10 (AJP) - South Korea’s financial regulator has put the brakes a 2.4 trillion won ($1.7 billion) rights offering by Hanwha Solutions, in a move that is drawing attention to the group’s broader capital-raising practices and governance structure. The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) on April 9 ordered the company to revise its securities filing, citing incomplete formal requirements and insufficient or unclear disclosure of key information that could hinder investor decision-making. The request suspends the effectiveness of the filing, delaying the company’s plan to raise fresh capital at a time when its financial position has come under increasing pressure. Hanwha Solutions had announced on March 26 that it would issue new shares worth 2.4 trillion won, with 1.5 trillion won earmarked for debt repayment and the remaining funds allocated to investments in solar and other businesses. The scale of the issuance — equivalent to roughly 42 percent of existing shares — triggered an immediate market backlash, with shares plunging more than 20 percent over two sessions. While the company framed the move as necessary to stabilize its balance sheet and support future investment, investors criticized the structure as shifting the burden of financial restructuring onto shareholders through significant dilution. The latest regulatory intervention comes amid growing scrutiny of large-scale equity financing across the Hanwha group, where similar transactions have repeatedly triggered sharp market reactions. Hanwha Aerospace offers a notable precedent. In March last year, the company approved a record 3.6 trillion won rights offering — the largest in Korean market history — to fund defense investments, including overseas production expansion and unmanned aerial vehicle engine development. Despite its growth-oriented rationale, the announcement led to a more than 13 percent drop in share price the following day. Investor backlash intensified over concerns about dilution and capital allocation, particularly given the company’s strong operating cash flow at the time. The controversy eventually forced a revision of the plan, with the offering size reduced to 2.3 trillion won and part of the funding shifted to a third-party allotment involving group affiliates. The sequence — large-scale equity issuance, sharp share price decline, and subsequent structural adjustment — has established a recurring pattern in the group’s capital strategy. That pattern has also intersected with governance concerns. In the case of Hanwha Aerospace, criticism extended beyond financing structure to questions about ownership consolidation, following transactions that increased the controlling family’s influence within key affiliates. Against this backdrop, market participants say the FSS’s latest move signals a shift toward more proactive oversight of equity financing that may materially impact minority shareholders. “The regulator appears to be responding not just to disclosure issues, but to repeated market concerns over how capital raising is structured,” an industry official said. Despite the regulatory setback, the group has sought to signal support. Hanwha Corp., which holds about 36.7 percent of Hanwha Solutions, has committed to fully subscribe to its allocation and take up an additional 20 percent in oversubscription, investing about 843.9 billion won. The move is widely seen as an attempt by the controlling shareholders to share the financial burden, even as questions persist over how that burden is ultimately distributed between the group and minority investors. Hanwha Solutions said it would “take the regulator’s request seriously” and prepare a revised filing that reflects feedback from shareholders and the market, emphasizing that it would prioritize shareholder value. Still, the underlying challenge remains unresolved. With net debt exceeding 12 trillion won and leverage rising sharply following years of aggressive investment, the company faces mounting pressure to secure funding without triggering further shareholder resistance. The latest intervention raises a broader question for the Hanwha group: how to balance large-scale investment, financial stability and shareholder value, as regulatory scrutiny intensifies and investor tolerance for dilution continues to narrow. 2026-04-10 16:51:32