KAIST nuclear engineering professor named head of Korean Nuclear Society SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Choi Sung-min, a professor of the Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), will assume office as new president the prestigious Korean Nuclear Society, effective Jan. 1. Choi earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nuclear engineering from Seoul National University, before completing a master’s degree and a doctorate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He later served as a visiting researcher at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and is currently a professor at KAIST. He has held a number of senior roles in the nuclear field, including chair of the board of the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, president of the Asia-Oceania Neutron Scattering Association, president of the Korean Neutron Beam Users Association, head of the Center for Advanced Nuclear Technology Research, and director of the Nuclear Basic Joint Research Institute. In a statement marking his appointment, Choi described nuclear power as “a key national asset” capable of meeting rising electricity demand in the era of artificial intelligence while supporting carbon neutrality goals and energy security. He added that the society would present future energy solutions grounded in scientific evidence and objective data. 2025-12-31 09:26:34

MASGA shipbuilding push lifts outlook for Korean yards SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea’s shipbuilding industry is expected to gain momentum next year as a bilateral initiative with the United States aimed at revitalizing American shipbuilding moves toward full implementation, industry officials said on Wednesday. The project, dubbed MASGA, short for “Make American Shipbuilding Great Again,” is designed to support Washington’s efforts to rebuild domestic shipbuilding capacity. South Korean yards are widely seen as key beneficiaries, given their global competitiveness in both commercial and specialized vessels. MASGA refers to a framework under which the South Korean government, through trade negotiations with the United States, would establish a shipbuilding cooperation fund worth up to $150 billion (around 209 trillion won). Hanwha Group, HD Hyundai Group and Samsung Heavy have been cited as core industry participants. Observers say South Korea’s three major shipbuilders — HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, Hanwha Ocean and Samsung Heavy Industries — will begin to see tangible benefits from the initiative in the new year. U.S. President Donald Trump recently unveiled what he described as a next-generation U.S. Navy strategy known as the “Golden Fleet,” and named Hanwha as a key partner. Speaking at a news conference on Dec. 22 at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump said that the Navy would work with the South Korean company as part of a planned new frigate program. HD Hyundai Heavy has also been mentioned by industry sources as a potential partner under the Golden Fleet framework, citing its close technical cooperation with Huntington Ingalls Industries, the prime contractor selected for the U.S. Navy’s new frigate program. In October, the two companies signed a memorandum of agreement covering cooperation in the design and construction of commercial ships and naval vessels, including joint efforts on next-generation logistics support ships and the potential establishment of shipbuilding facilities in the United States. Samsung Heavy, meanwhile, is expanding its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business and pursuing joint-building projects with U.S. shipbuilders, including Vigor Marine and General Dynamics NASSCO. The MASGA initiative is also expected to create opportunities for smaller South Korean shipbuilders. HJ Shipbuilding & Construction and K Shipbuilding, both known for specialized vessels, were cited as potential beneficiaries. HJ Shipbuilding & Construction recently secured its first MRO contract involving a 40,000-ton U.S. Navy logistics support ship, leveraging its experience in naval shipbuilding and maintenance work. Separately from MASGA, industry prospects are also supported by expectations of rising global demand for high-value vessels, particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, driven by increased LNG exports from the United States and Europe. Clarkson Research, a London-based shipping and shipbuilding consultancy, forecasts 115 LNG carrier orders next year, up 24 percent from this year. Oh Hyun-seok, a professor of international trade at Keimyung University, said the initiative could benefit not only shipbuilders but also suppliers of components and equipment. “Given the limited shipbuilding infrastructure in the United States, how South Korean companies deploy skilled workers and structure supply strategies will be critical to the success of the project,” Oh said. 2025-12-31 08:30:21

Korea's Digital Asset Basic Act faces delay amid dispute over stablecoin rules SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) -South Korea’s government is preparing a Digital Asset Basic Act that would introduce stronger investor protections, including no-fault liability for damages and safeguards to prevent losses stemming from stablecoin issuers’ failures, but the legislation is stalemated by disagreements over stablecoin guidelines. According to financial authorities and National Assembly officials on Tuesday, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) is drafting the government’s proposal for the second phase of crypto-market regulation. Discussions are centering on tougher investor protections, enhanced governance standards for exchanges and clearer rules for digital-asset issuance. Under the draft, stablecoin issuers may be required to manage reserve assets in the form of bank deposits or government bonds and to place assets equal to or exceeding the outstanding amount in custody or trust accounts at banks or other authorized institutions. The aim is to prevent issuer failures from directly harming investors. The bill is also expected to introduce a no-fault liability rule, holding digital-asset operators responsible for damages caused by incidents such as hacking or system failures regardless of intent or negligence. Provisions similar to those applied in the traditional financial sector — including disclosure obligations, oversight of contract terms and restrictions on misleading advertising — are also under consideration. The government plan would additionally allow domestic initial coin offerings, provided disclosure requirements are met. Since ICOs were effectively banned in 2017, many Korean projects have issued tokens overseas before listing them domestically, a practice regulators now seek to correct. Governance reforms for major domestic exchanges — including Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone and Korbit — are also being reviewed. The FSC is reportedly considering introducing a major-shareholder fitness review and capping controlling shareholders’ stakes at around 15 percent, amid criticism that profits and decision-making power are overly concentrated among founders or small shareholder groups. The FSC cautioned that details have yet to be finalized, noting that submission of the bill is likely to be pushed into next year due to disagreements with the Bank of Korea over stablecoin issuance. The central bank argues that only consortia in which banks hold a majority stake of at least 51 percent should be allowed to issue stablecoins, citing financial stability and regulatory compliance. The FSC opposes this approach, saying it would unduly restrict participation by technology companies. The two sides also differ on inter-agency coordination. The central bank favors creating a separate consultative body that would require unanimous agreement among relevant authorities, while the FSC maintains that no additional body is necessary because the commission already operates on a consensus-based system. Other unresolved issues include where to set minimum capital requirements for issuers — currently under discussion within a range of 500 million won to 25 billion won — and whether exchanges should be allowed to engage in both issuance and distribution of stablecoins. An FSC official said the agency is coordinating with related institutions and reviewing all options as discussions continue. With the government bill delayed, the ruling party’s digital asset task force is reportedly preparing an alternative proposal based on bills already submitted to the National Assembly. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-31 07:58:22

 New physician shortage forecast shows Korea's medical standoff remains unresolved SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) -South Korea could face a shortage of up to about 11,000 doctors by 2040, according to a new government-backed projection, underscoring brewing healthcare crisis rooted in delayed medical reform after a year-long fallout from mass walkouts by doctors. The estimate was released Tuesday by the physician workforce supply-and-demand projection committee, an independent body under the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The panel projected that physician demand will continue to outpace supply even under multiple scenarios that factor in productivity gains from artificial intelligence and policy efforts to curb excessive medical use. Under its baseline model, the committee forecast demand of 144,688 to 149,273 doctors by 2040, compared with a projected supply of 138,137 to 138,984 — leaving a shortfall of 5,700 to 11,100 physicians. In 2035, the gap is estimated at 1,500 to 4,900 doctors. The findings will be submitted to the Health and Medical Policy Deliberation Committee, which is preparing to review medical school enrollment quotas for the 2027 academic year and beyond. Intensive discussions are expected to begin in January. The projection revives a politically sensitive issue that triggered one of the most serious healthcare disruptions in recent years. In February 2024, the government announced plans to raise annual medical school admissions by 2,000 students — a 67 percent increase — beginning in 2025, citing long-term shortages linked to population aging. The move prompted strong opposition from doctors’ groups, leading to mass resignations by residents and interns. At the peak of the protest in March 2024, more than 11,000 doctors had left their posts, forcing hospitals to scale back surgeries and emergency services. Beyond overall headcount, the data point to deep imbalances in how medical labor is distributed. An increasing number of newly licensed doctors are opening private clinics in highly profitable, low-risk fields such as dermatology and plastic surgery, while essential specialties continue to face shortages. From January to July 2025, 176 new clinics were opened by general practitioners, up 36.4 percent from a year earlier. Dermatology accounted for more than 80 percent of those openings. By contrast, the number of pediatric specialists declined to 6,438 in July 2025, down from the previous year. Regional disparities remain pronounced. About 70 percent of new clinics are concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area, leaving many rural regions struggling to secure emergency, obstetric and surgical services. Health officials acknowledge that expanding medical school enrollment alone cannot resolve these imbalances. High litigation risks, long working hours and relatively low compensation continue to deter young doctors from entering essential fields. The government has pledged to invest 10 trillion won by 2028 to raise fees for critical specialties, but experts say financial incentives alone are unlikely to be sufficient without broader reforms to training, liability rules and regional deployment. As deliberations resume over future enrollment quotas, the new forecast highlights why physician supply remains one of the country’s most politically sensitive policy challenges — a problem temporarily contained but far from resolved. Medical school enrollment quotas are politically sensitive in Korea because they sit at the crossroads of healthcare policy and elite education. Expanding quotas affects not only the long-term supply of doctors but also the country’s highly competitive university hierarchy, as top-performing students overwhelmingly prefer medical schools for their income stability and social status. Any change reshapes entrance exam dynamics, private education demand and the allocation of elite talent away from science and engineering. 2025-12-31 07:44:51

Public bike stations close ahead of New Year's Eve bell-ringing ceremony SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - The Seoul Metropolitan Government will temporarily close 16 public bike rental stations near Bosingak Pavilion from 7 p.m. on December 30 to 8 a.m. on January 1 in preparation for large crowds expected at the New Year's Eve bell-ringing ceremony. The measure aims to ensure public safety and prevent accidents as thousands gather for the traditional event. The bell-ringing ceremony, held at midnight on January 1, marks the end of the year and welcomes the new year with 33 strikes of the Bosingak bell. 2025-12-30 17:55:25

IPO pipeline packed for KOSDAQ, KOSPI candidates stay on hold 2025 SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - South Korea’s initial public offering market staged a belated rebound in the second half of the year, as the KOSPI’s surge past the 4,000 mark revived investor appetite and unleashed a rush of new listings — particularly on the tech-heavy KOSDAQ. A total of 77 companies went public this year, including seven on the KOSPI and 70 on the KOSDAQ. Companies raised a combined 4.56 trillion won ($3.15 billion), up 14.9 percent from a year earlier. The number of listings was broadly unchanged from 2024, when 78 firms debuted. Nearly nine out of 10 newly listed companies — 89 percent — traded above their IPO prices, marking the strongest post-listing performance since 2021. Market capitalization at IPO prices reached 15.32 trillion won, up 1.49 trillion won from the previous year and the highest level in seven years excluding the 2021 boom. The KOSDAQ led the revival. Five companies debuted with market capitalizations exceeding 500 billion won, the largest such group since 2021: Reevesmed (1.36 trillion won), Semifive (809.1 billion won), AimedBio (705.7 billion won), CMTX (561 billion won) and The Pinkfong Company (545.3 billion won). The Pinkfong Company, which listed on Nov. 18, is best known globally for producing “Baby Shark Dance,” the most-watched video in YouTube history with more than 16.5 billion views. On the KOSPI, cosmetics maker d’Alba Global stood out as the year’s most successful listing. Since its May debut, the company — known for its “flight attendant mist” — has seen its share price jump 122.5 percent as of Tuesday’s close. Among KOSDAQ listings, the strongest performer was Proteina, a drug development company whose shares surged nearly 700 percent between its July debut and year-end. Kim Dae-jong, a professor of business administration at Sejong University, said Korea’s IPO market in 2025 reflected growing polarization under high interest rates and cautious investor sentiment. “Institutional investors are increasingly demanding conservative valuations and clearer earnings visibility,” Kim said. “This has strengthened the trend toward lower IPO pricing.” He added that the market is “transitioning from a short-term, profit-driven structure toward one that places greater weight on mid- to long-term corporate value.” Looking ahead, a number of heavyweight candidates are waiting in the wings for next year’s IPO market, including K Bank, Musinsa, Olive Young, SK Ecoplant, Essex Solutions, Sono International and AI chipmaker Rebellion. The outlook for new listings will be closely tied to the trajectory of the broader stock market. President Lee Jae Myung has repeatedly pledged to push the KOSPI toward 5,000 through structural reforms aimed at narrowing the so-called “Korea discount.” “The ruling party will promote capital market advancement, strengthen shareholder value and eradicate unfair trading practices,” Park Hong-bae, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party, told AJP. “At the same time, we will enhance disclosure systems to support investor decision-making and encourage sound capital flows.” A senior official at the Ministry of Economy and Finance also said the government remains optimistic about the KOSPI 5,000 goal, citing planned incentives for long-term shareholding. Still, economists caution against overconfidence. Kim Yong-jin, a professor of business administration at Sogang University, said reaching the 5,000 mark would require several favorable conditions to align. “Given the global economic environment and Korea’s own outlook, it does not appear very likely in the near term,” he said. “High market volatility makes the challenge even greater.” 2025-12-30 17:43:42

State creditor bank demands more aggressive output cut from Korean naphtha makers SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) -The government is intensifying pressure on South Korea's major petrochemical producers to further reduce naphtha cracking capacity during the prolonged industrial slump, demanding more aggressive streamlining from Hanwha, DL and Lotte tenants of Yeocheon complex, industry sources said. According to the sources on Tuesday, Lee Bong-hee, executive vice president and head of corporate finance at the Korea Development Bank (KDB), visited Yeocheon NCC on Friday for an on-site inspection. He later held discussions with executives from Hanwha Solutions, DL Chemical and Lotte Chemical on voluntary reductions in naphtha cracking capacity. During the meetings, Lee asked the three companies to submit a concrete plan to permanently shut Yeocheon NCC’s third plant, which has been idled and has an annual capacity of 470,000 tons, the sources said. He also conveyed that if additional cuts are made at Yeocheon NCC’s first plant (900,000 tons) and second plant (910,000 tons), as well as at Lotte Chemical’s Yeosu NCC facility (1.23 million tons), the government and creditor banks could offer support in return. The state policy bank is the lead creditor bank for Hanwha Solutions, DL Chemical and Yeocheon NCC, and also serves as a creditor to Lotte Chemical. Lee oversees petrochemical restructuring and creditor-bank management at KDB. With the companies seeking bond maturity extensions and additional financing, his targeted visit to Yeocheon NCC was widely viewed as adding pressure on the firms to move faster on restructuring, the sources said. KDB has also urged the companies to submit detailed capacity-reduction plans alongside additional self-help measures, including further capital injections by major shareholders. The policy lender has made clear that it will not provide additional financial support unless the three companies reach agreement on concrete restructuring steps, the sources added. At the same time, Hanwha Solutions, DL Chemical and Lotte Chemical are accelerating preparations to establish a joint venture to consolidate their naphtha cracking operations. The companies aim to set up a jointly funded subsidiary by the first quarter of 2027 to jointly operate Yeocheon NCC’s first and second plants together with Lotte Chemical’s Yeosu NCC facility. They are currently conducting due diligence with Samil PwC and other advisers to finalize the joint venture structure and additional capacity-reduction measures, which they plan to submit to the government in January, the sources said. If the companies propose further cuts, total industry-wide reductions in naphtha cracking capacity could exceed the government’s initial target of 2.7 million to 3.7 million tons by roughly 1 million tons, according to industry estimates. Market participants are watching closely whether authorities and creditor banks will selectively accept voluntary restructuring plans. Companies fear that if their proposals fall short of official expectations, only the originally announced cuts may be recognized, limiting the scope of support. Lee Deok-hwan, emeritus professor of chemistry at Sogang University, cautioned that direct engagement by government-side officials with individual firms before voluntary restructuring plans are finalized could undermine trust in the process. “Companies may interpret such moves as groundwork for accepting only the measures favored by the authorities while rejecting others,” he said. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-30 17:43:18

Asian stocks end 2025 quietly as Korean chipmakers steal the spotlight SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - Asian equities wrapped up the final trading session of 2025 mostly flat on Tuesday, while South Korean semiconductor shares closed the year in celebratory fashion, hitting fresh all-time highs. Korea’s benchmark KOSPI slipped 0.15 percent to finish at 4,214.17. Despite the modest pullback, the index logged a surge of more than 75 percent from the final trading day of last year — the strongest annual performance among major Asian stock markets. Foreign and institutional investors locked in profits ahead of year-end, net selling 472.8 billion won ($327 million) and 368.9 billion won, respectively. Retail investors absorbed the selling pressure, posting net purchases of 818.9 billion won in a final-year buying spree. The won weakened as demand for dollars rose toward year-end settlement, with the currency closing at 1,446.8 per dollar, down 12.3 won as of 4:20 p.m. The softer currency pushed bond yields higher across the curve. The three-year government bond yield rose 1.3 basis points to 2.952 percent, while the 10-year yield climbed 3.1 basis points to 3.385 percent. Semiconductor heavyweights led the market’s standout gains. SK hynix advanced 1.72 percent to 651,000 won, while Samsung Electronics added 0.33 percent to 119,900 won, with both stocks setting new all-time highs. The rally followed an upbeat outlook from Nomura Securities, which set 2026 target prices of 160,000 won for Samsung Electronics and 880,000 won for SK hynix. Shares of Hyundai Motor Group affiliates also moved higher. Hyundai Motor rose 1 percent to 296,500 won, Hyundai Mobis gained 1.77 percent to 373,000 won, and Hyundai AutoEver jumped 6.41 percent to 332,000 won, leading gains within the group. Battery-related stocks, however, underperformed. LG Energy Solution fell 3 percent to 368,500 won, weighed down by a series of contract cancellations, while rival Samsung SDI slid 2.9 percent to 269,500 won. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ underperformed regional peers, dropping 0.76 percent to 925.47, as foreign investors offloaded a net 312.3 billion won to lock in profits. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.37 percent to 50,339.48. Toyota Motor fell 0.24 percent to 3,356 yen, while Honda Motor declined 0.32 percent to 1,536 yen. Semiconductor-related stocks showed mixed performance, with Ibiden rising 1.58 percent and Disco gaining 0.88 percent, while Advantest fell 0.73 percent to 19,635 yen. Taiwan’s TAIEX also retreated, closing 0.36 percent lower at 28,707.13. Heavyweights dragged on the index, with TSMC slipping 0.65 percent to 1,520 Taiwan dollars ($48.46) and Foxconn falling 1.3 percent to 228 Taiwan dollars. MediaTek ended flat at 1,420 Taiwan dollars. Mainland Chinese markets were little changed. The Shanghai Composite finished nearly flat at 3,965.12, while the Shenzhen Composite rose 0.49 percent to 13,604.07. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index ended 0.6 percent higher at 25,828.25. Most regional markets close for the year after Tuesday, though mainland Chinese exchanges will continue trading through Wednesday. 2025-12-30 17:08:23

PHOTOS:KOSPI tops 2025 performance SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - South Korea’s stock market wrapped up the year on a strong note despite a slight pullback on the final trading day. On Monday, the benchmark KOSPI closed at 4,214.17, down 6.39 points, or 0.15 percent, from the previous session. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ ended at 925.47, down 7.12 points, or 0.76 percent. For the full year, the KOSPI and KOSDAQ jumped roughly 75 percent and 36 percent, respectively, marking significant annual gains. In the afternoon, electronic boards at Hana Bank’s headquarters dealing room in central Seoul displayed the closing figures, capturing the market’s year-end sentiment. At the same time, the Korean won weakened against the U.S. dollar. As of 3:30 p.m., the won-dollar exchange rate closed at 1,439.0 won per dollar, up 9.2 won from the previous session. 2025-12-30 16:48:16

KOSPI posts world's fastest gains in 2025, but capital outflows cloud celebration SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - South Korea emerged as the world’s best-performing equity market in 2025, with its benchmark KOSPI surging nearly 76 percent over the year. Yet the historic rally came with a paradox: while stock prices soared to record highs, outbound investment overwhelmed domestic buying, leaving the won among the weakest currencies in the region. The KOSPI closed at 4,214.17 on Dec. 30, the final trading day of the year, nearly doubling from 2,399.49 at the end of 2024. The annual gain of 75.6 percent ranks as the third-largest in the market’s history, behind only the 93 percent rally during the 1987 “three-lows” boom and the 83 percent surge in 1999 at the height of the post-IMF technology bubble. Few could have imagined such a turnaround at the start of the year. Investor confidence had been badly shaken by political turmoil following a brief declaration of martial law and the subsequent impeachment of the president. Uncertainty lingered through the first half until a snap presidential election in June began to stabilize sentiment. Optimism strengthened after President Lee Jae Myung pledged to lift the KOSPI to 5,000, injecting momentum into a market long viewed as structurally undervalued. Earlier in the year, volatility had peaked when renewed “Trump-style” tariff threats pushed the KOSPI down to 2,328.2 and the KOSDAQ to 651.3 on April 7 — their lowest levels of 2025. Foreign investors retreated sharply during that period, unloading 13.6 trillion won ($9.6 billion) worth of Korean equities in April alone. The outflows pushed the monthly average exchange rate to around 1,440 won per dollar, highlighting pressure on the currency. Sentiment began to recover only after the June election, as the new administration rolled out policies aimed at strengthening capital markets and enhancing shareholder returns. Momentum accelerated in the second half of the year. The KOSPI closed above 3,000 on June 20 for the first time in three and a half years and broke the 4,000 mark intraday on Oct. 27. On Nov. 3, it reached an all-time closing high of 4,221.87, entering uncharted territory 45 years after the index was launched. Fastest growth among major global markets With a 75.6 percent annual return, the KOSPI recorded the strongest performance among major global equity benchmarks in 2025. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 26.5 percent, China’s Shanghai Composite gained 18.3 percent, and Taiwan’s Taiex advanced about 25 percent over the same period. Analysts attribute Korea’s outsized rally to a combination of policy support, ample liquidity and powerful industrial tailwinds, amplified by the global boom in artificial intelligence after the market began the year deeply undervalued. Chipmakers supplying high-bandwidth memory to Nvidia and other AI leaders emerged as the biggest beneficiaries. Samsung Electronics climbed to 120,000 won for the first time intertrade, while SK Hynix more than tripled in value, hitting a record high. “The global liquidity environment remains supportive, and strong corporate earnings combined with the AI growth cycle should continue to underpin the market,” said Kim Jong-min, head of research at Samsung Securities. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ also ranked among the world’s top performers, rising 37 percent for the year. After lagging earlier in 2025, it attracted renewed foreign inflows from October, exceeding 5 trillion won. On Oct. 27, the index closed at 902.7, and on Dec. 4 — nearly a year after the martial law shock — its total market capitalization surpassed 500 trillion won for the first time. Brokerages reap windfall from rally Domestic securities firms were among the biggest beneficiaries of the bull run. According to the Financial Supervisory Service, the combined net profit of 60 brokerage houses reached 2.5 trillion won in the third quarter alone, up 60 percent from a year earlier. Their total assets stood at 908.1 trillion won as of late September, more than 20 percent higher than at the end of 2024. Korea Investment & Securities became the first domestic brokerage to surpass 2 trillion won in cumulative operating profit by the third quarter, with full-year earnings projected to reach 3 trillion won. That would place it close to Nomura Holdings’ 472 billion yen ($3.1 billion) operating profit for fiscal 2024, potentially ranking it third or fourth among Asia’s largest brokerages by earnings in 2025. A rally at home, but money flows abroad Despite the historic rise in share prices, capital flows tell a more complex story. According to Bank of Korea data, outbound portfolio investment by Korean residents surged $11.2 billion in September alone, exceeding the $9.1 billion in foreign inflows into Korean securities. Between January and October, residents invested a net $117.1 billion overseas — including $89.9 billion in equities and $27.2 billion in bonds. October alone recorded a record $17.3 billion in outflows. The scale of these movements suggests not short-term currency speculation but a structural reallocation of portfolios. In that sense, 2025 may be remembered as the year Korea’s stock market delivered its strongest performance on record — even as Korean capital increasingly chose to look abroad. 2025-12-30 16:45:53