Journalist

Shin Dong-kun
  • South Korean asset management firms Q3 profit surges 128 percent year-on-year
    South Korean asset management firms' Q3 profit surges 128 percent year-on-year SEOUL, December 01 (AJP) - South Korea’s asset management industry expanded in the third quarter, with total assets under management (AUM) rising 3.9 percent from the previous quarter to 1,868.8 trillion won (about $1.27 trillion). Fund deposits grew 5 percent to 1,226.8 trillion won ($835 billion), while investment advisory contracts increased 1.8 percent to 642 trillion won. Funds recorded gains across major categories: equity funds reached 149.5 trillion won, bond funds 105.8 trillion won, and derivative funds 70 trillion won. Industry profitability strengthened sharply. Net profit jumped 128.5 percent year-on-year to 944.7 billion won, while operating profit climbed 154.9 percent to 996.3 billion won. Return on equity improved 1.3 percentage points to 21.9 percent. An official from the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) said that improved government policies and stronger market performance helped lift stock indices and support profitability. However, the regulator noted the continued dominance of ETF-related public funds and widening performance gaps among firms. Nearly 80 percent of industry-wide net profit in the third quarter was concentrated among the top 30 companies. The number of asset management firms increased by five to 505, with total employment reaching 13,626, up 119 from the previous quarter. Among 501 firms assessed, 299, or 59.7 percent, were profitable. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-01 10:08:15
  • Foreign investors extend buying spree in Korean stocks but retreat from bonds
    Foreign investors extend buying spree in Korean stocks but retreat from bonds SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - Foreign investors extended their months-long buying streak in South Korean equities in October, even as they pulled back from the country’s bond market, according to data released Friday by the Financial Supervisory Service. Overseas investors purchased a net 4.2 trillion won ($3.1 billion) in Korean stocks last month, marking the sixth straight month of net inflows. The bulk of the buying was concentrated in the benchmark KOSPI market. By the end of October, foreign investors held 1,250 trillion won in Korean equities — about 30.1 percent of total market capitalization. European investors led the charge, adding a net 4.5 trillion won in equities. Asia-based investors followed with net purchases of 100 billion won. Investors from the Middle East, however, were net sellers, offloading about 600 billion won. By country, Britain and Ireland emerged as the most active buyers, with net purchases of 2.4 trillion won and 1.3 trillion won, respectively. U.S. investors sold a net 1 trillion won, while Kuwait shed 600 billion won. The upbeat sentiment in stocks contrasted with foreign activity in South Korea’s bond market. Although investors bought 3.8 trillion won in bonds in October, redemptions totaled 4 trillion won, resulting in a net withdrawal of 178 billion won. Foreign holdings of Korean bonds stood at 307 trillion won at month’s end, or 11.2 percent of all outstanding bonds. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-14 10:15:33