Mirae Asset Securities prepares to launch omnibus accounts for foreign investors SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Mirae Asset Securities is preparing to introduce omnibus accounts that would allow foreign investors to trade South Korean stocks without opening local brokerage accounts, according to industry sources. The securities firm is developing systems and updating contract documents while working with overseas affiliates in the United States and Europe to prepare for account openings and service launches, industry officials said Friday. Omnibus accounts enable foreigners to trade South Korean stocks through their home-country brokerages without opening separate accounts at South Korean securities firms. Nonresident foreigners currently face complex procedures to invest in South Korean stocks, including requirements to visit domestic securities firms in person to open accounts—barriers that have drawn persistent criticism. The Financial Services Commission eased adoption requirements on Nov. 27 by eliminating restrictions on which entities can open omnibus accounts. The system previously required designation as an innovative financial service. The regulatory shift is widely viewed as an effort to attract dollar inflows and improve foreign investor convenience amid a rising won-dollar exchange rate. Securities firms must secure foreign brokerage partners before launching the service, meaning adoption timelines will likely vary by company. Samsung Securities and Yuanta Securities are currently preparing to implement the system. Samsung Securities is in talks with a Hong Kong brokerage, while Yuanta Securities is targeting a first-quarter 2026 launch. Hana Securities, which became the first South Korean firm to introduce omnibus accounts, plans to expand the service while continuing discussions with brokerages in Japan and Taiwan beyond its existing partnership with Hong Kong's Emperor Securities. Market analysts say expanded use of omnibus accounts could improve dollar liquidity and benefit South Korea's stock market. The complexity of foreign investment and account structures has been cited as a factor in South Korea's repeated failure to join MSCI's (Morgan Stanley Capital International Index) developed markets index. Some analysts suggest broader omnibus account adoption could improve South Korea's market-accessibility scores and strengthen its case for developed market status. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-26 17:39:16

Foreign investors turn net sellers of Korean stocks in November SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Foreign investors sold more than 13 trillion won ($9.7 billion) worth of South Korean equities in November, turning net sellers for the first time in six months, while resuming net purchases of local bonds. According to the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) on Friday, offshore investors recorded net equity sales of 13.4 trillion won. They offloaded 13.5 trillion won on the Kospi but were modest net buyers on the Kosdaq, purchasing 118 billion won. Foreign investors held 1,193 trillion won in listed equities and 322 trillion won in listed bonds as of the end of November, a combined total of 1,515 trillion won. Equity holdings fell 56.1 trillion won from October due to the sell-off, while bond holdings rose 14.6 trillion won on renewed net investment. European investors posted the largest net equity sales at 5.7 trillion won, followed by investors from the Americas with 3.6 trillion won and Asia with 2.7 trillion won. By country, the United Kingdom and the United States were the biggest net sellers, unloading 4.5 trillion won and 4.1 trillion won, respectively. Canada and Ireland were net buyers, at 500 billion won and 400 billion won. U.S. investors remained the biggest equity holders with 489 trillion won, or 41 percent of the total, followed by European investors with 375.3 trillion won (31.5 percent), Asian investors with 164.8 trillion won (13.8 percent) and Middle Eastern investors with 19.8 trillion won (1.7 percent). In the bond market, foreigners bought a net 17.62 trillion won in listed bonds in November and saw 1.37 trillion won mature, resulting in net investment of 16.25 trillion won. European investors led net bond purchases with 9.6 trillion won, followed by Asian investors with 4.5 trillion won and investors from the Americas with 1.7 trillion won. By holdings, Asian investors accounted for the largest share at 42.7 percent (137.2 trillion won), while European investors held 37.1 percent (119.2 trillion won). * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-12 09:30:18

South Korea's KB Securities opens Mumbai office to tap India's financial markets SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - South Korea’s KB Securities has formally opened an office in Mumbai, marking its entry into India’s fast-growing financial market. The new office is located in Lower Parel, positioned between Mumbai’s traditional business center of Nariman Point and the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), the city’s financial hub. KB Securities said the branch will focus on exploring investment opportunities and strengthening its presence in India’s capital markets. The opening ceremony, held on Dec. 1, was attended by senior figures including Yoo Dong-wan, South Korea’s consul general in Mumbai, and Rohit Kumar, head of business development at the National Stock Exchange of India. The firm said in a press release that the Mumbai branch will serve as a base for securing M&A and equity investment opportunities, adding that the firm aims to link its global business expertise with India’s growth potential through close cooperation with local financial institutions and regulators. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-03 14:39:26

South Korea to expand English-language disclosures for global investors SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - South Korea’s top financial regulator is moving to make corporate information more accessible to global investors, unveiling a new disclosure plan that would significantly expand English-language reporting and tighten transparency around shareholder meetings and executive pay. The Financial Services Commission announced the proposed changes on Monday in an effort to strengthen shareholder rights and bring local practices closer to international standards. Under the proposal, companies listed on the benchmark KOSPI index with assets exceeding 2 trillion won, or roughly $1.5 billion, would be required to file disclosures in English beginning May 1, 2026. The current threshold applies only to companies with assets over 10 trillion won. English-language reports on the results of shareholder meetings would be required starting March 1 of the same year. The scope of required English disclosures would also expand sharply — from 26 categories of management information to 55 — covering nearly all items required by the Korea Exchange. Companies with assets over 10 trillion won would need to publish English disclosures on the same day as Korean filings, while those above the new 2 trillion won threshold would have three business days. By 2028, the FSC said it plans to extend English disclosure rules to all KOSPI-listed firms and is considering similar requirements for major companies on the tech-heavy KOSDAQ market. To lessen compliance burdens, the government said it would offer AI-based translation tools and industry-specific English templates. The overhaul also seeks to bring more clarity to South Korea’s tightly packed shareholder meeting season, when hundreds of companies hold annual meetings in the final days of March. Beginning in March 2026, companies would be required to release detailed voting results — including approval, opposition and abstention rates — on the day of the meeting. Regular filings would also need to include complete voting records and shareholder counts. The plan includes new rules on executive compensation as well. Companies would be required to include three years of total shareholder return and operating profit data in their pay disclosures, along with clearer explanations of how compensation was determined. All stock-based awards — including unrealized equity — would need to be reported in a single standardized format with cash-equivalent values. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-17 15:11:56