KOSPI Surges Past 7800 Mark as Samsung and SK Hynix Lead Gains The KOSPI continues its upward trend, surpassing the 7800 mark shortly after the market opened and consistently breaking previous records. The index is being driven by strong performances from semiconductor giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. According to the Korea Exchange, as of 9:09 a.m., the KOSPI was up 307.33 points (4.10%) at 7805.33. The index started at 7775.31, an increase of 277.31 points (3.70%) from the previous trading day, and has continued to rise. In the securities market, foreign and institutional investors sold a net 420.7 billion won and 132.5 billion won, respectively, while individual investors purchased a net 526.4 billion won. Among the top market capitalization stocks, Samsung Electronics (up 6.15%), SK Hynix (up 9.43%), SK Square (up 6.02%), Hyundai Motor (up 0.98%), Samsung C&T (up 14.79%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (up 4.41%), and Hanwha Aerospace (up 3.90%) are all experiencing gains. Conversely, LG Energy Solution (down 1.78%), Doosan Enerbility (down 0.46%), and Samsung Biologics (down 0.54%) are seeing declines. On this day, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix both saw significant increases of 7-8% in pre-market trading, continuing their trend of reaching record highs, with their combined market capitalization nearing 300 trillion won. At the same time, the KOSDAQ index fell by 1.84 points (0.15%) to 1205.88. The index opened at 1212.88, up 5.16 points (0.43%) from the previous trading day, but turned downward due to selling pressure from foreign and institutional investors. In the KOSDAQ market, foreign and institutional investors sold a net 162.5 billion won and 51.9 billion won, respectively, while individual investors bought a net 216.7 billion won. Among the top KOSDAQ stocks, EcoPro BM (down 2.53%), EcoPro (down 2.39%), Alteogen (down 2.35%), Rainbow Robotics (down 1.40%), Kolon TissueGene (down 3.83%), Samchundang Pharm (down 2.72%), and HLB (down 4.12%) are all declining, while Wonik IPS (up 11.21%) and JUSUNG Engineering (up 9.07%) are rising. Han Ji-young, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, stated, "The KOSPI is likely to continue its unprecedented rally amid ongoing market dynamics. This week, external events such as the April CPI and the U.S.-China summit are on the horizon, but the sustainability of the semiconductor rally that began last week will be a more critical factor." He added, "Currently, there is a desire for profit-taking among all market participants, which may lead to increased short-term volatility during trading hours."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-11 09:28:51

US-Iran Negotiation Uncertainty Leads to Drop in Won-Dollar Exchange Rate Despite growing uncertainty surrounding negotiations between the United States and Iran, the won-dollar exchange rate opened lower. On May 11, in the Seoul foreign exchange market, the exchange rate for the Korean won against the US dollar was trading at 1,467.9 won as of 9:15 a.m. The rate opened at 1,466.0 won, down 5.7 won, and has shown a steady trend since. On May 11 (local time), Iran delivered a proposal to the US through Pakistan, the mediator, which included an immediate ceasefire on all fronts, a halt to US maritime blockades, and guarantees against further attacks. However, President Donald Trump publicly rejected the proposal, stating on his social media platform Truth Social, "I read the response from the so-called representatives of Iran, and I am not pleased at all." Previously, the US had proposed a peace plan stating that if Iran allowed passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the US would lift the blockade on Iranian ports within a month. Despite concerns over the failure of negotiations between the US and Iran, the exchange rate is expected to decline, buoyed by the spillover effects of the stock market's AI rally. Min Kyung-won, an economist at Woori Bank, explained, "The dollar is showing strength in the Sydney market, and in the early Asian market, speculative long positions on the dollar and adjustments in morning stock prices are likely to lead to a weakening of the won, yuan, and Singapore dollar." He added, "As the day progresses, risk appetite is expected to recover, and the won may widen its intraday losses in line with a rebound in stock prices. Given that the stock market continued its AI-driven rally despite last week's military clashes between US forces and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, the domestic market is likely to maintain an upward trend centered around semiconductors."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-11 09:27:34

Trump Rejects Iran's Peace Proposal, Oil Prices Surge Over 3% Donald Trump, the President of the United States, stated that he cannot accept Iran's response to the U.S. peace proposal, leading to a decline in U.S. stock index futures and a surge in international oil prices. According to Bloomberg, as of 9:18 a.m. KST on May 11, Brent crude oil rose by 3.46% to $104.79 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also increased by 3.48%, reaching $98.74 per barrel. This spike in oil prices was triggered by Trump's public rejection of Iran's response. On May 10, Trump posted on social media platform Truth Social, stating, "I just read the response from the so-called 'representatives' of Iran. I do not like it. It is completely unacceptable." Previously, Iran had reportedly sent a revised response to the U.S. negotiating team, proposing to end the prolonged conflict and lift sanctions against Iran. The Wall Street Journal reported that Tehran suggested transferring some of its enriched uranium stockpile to a third country but rejected demands to dismantle its nuclear facilities. Trump's strong remarks have dampened hopes for a peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran. Concerns are growing that delays in negotiations could prolong disruptions to energy supplies, especially given the significant restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of war in late February. On Wall Street, expectations are rising that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz will not be resolved quickly. A Goldman Sachs survey indicated that more than half of respondents expect logistical flows through the Strait to face challenges until at least the end of June. The rise in oil prices is also weighing on the stock market. According to Yahoo Finance, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are down 156 points, or 0.3%. S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures are also experiencing declines of about 0.2% each. This adjustment follows a strong rebound in major U.S. stock indices last Friday. The U.S. stock market closed higher after the April jobs report exceeded market expectations. According to Bloomberg, non-farm payrolls in April increased by 115,000, significantly surpassing economists' forecast of a 55,000 increase. Consequently, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite indices both recorded all-time highs on a weekly basis. Yahoo Finance noted that investors are closely watching the upcoming release of the April Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) this week. Whether the rise in oil prices leads to broader inflationary pressures will be a key factor influencing future interest rate outlooks and stock market trends.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-11 09:24:23

South Korea's Early May Exports Surge 43.7% to Record $18.4 Billion Amid Rising Energy Imports South Korea's exports surged 43.7% in early May compared to the previous year, driven by strong semiconductor sales. The total export value reached $18.434 billion, marking the highest level for the month of May. Exports of related products, such as computer peripherals, also showed significant growth. However, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has led to an 8% increase in crude oil import costs. According to the Customs Office, the preliminary export figures for May 1-10 indicate a 43.7% increase from the same period last year. Adjusting for the number of working days (5.0), the average daily export also rose by 43.7% year-on-year. Monthly exports have been on a positive trend since June of last year, with exports in March and April exceeding $80 billion, largely due to the booming semiconductor market. During this period, semiconductor exports soared by 149.8% to $8.539 billion. Exports of computer peripherals increased by 382.8%, petroleum products by 2.4%, and wireless communication devices by 6.4%. Semiconductors accounted for 46.3% of total exports, up 19.7 percentage points from the same period last year. In contrast, passenger car exports fell by 26.0% to $830 million. Exports of steel products decreased by 3.2%, automotive parts by 4.6%, ships by 58.6%, precision instruments by 13.6%, and home appliances by 13.6%. By destination, exports to China (up 81.8%), Vietnam (up 89.3%), the United States (up 17.9%), Taiwan (up 96.7%), and the European Union (up 11.3%) increased. Conversely, exports to India (down 14.8%) and Singapore (down 6.0%) declined. The top three export markets— the U.S., Vietnam, and China—accounted for 55.3% of total exports. Imports also rose by 14.9% to $16.737 billion. The increase in crude oil imports, driven by rising international oil prices due to the Middle East conflict, saw a 7.9% rise to $2.776 billion. Overall energy imports, including oil, gas, and coal, increased by 8.9% year-on-year. Petroleum product imports doubled, reaching $875 million. Additionally, imports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment (up 129.7%), semiconductors (up 41.4%), and precision instruments (up 16.8%) also showed growth. However, imports of machinery (down 1.9%), passenger cars (down 16.3%), and coal (down 12.2%) decreased. By country, imports from China (up 28.8%), the U.S. (up 22.9%), the EU (up 45.3%), Saudi Arabia (up 19.6%), and Japan (up 7.2%) increased. However, imports from Taiwan (down 3.4%), Vietnam (down 0.7%), and Russia (down 40.2%) fell. With exports exceeding imports, the trade balance recorded a surplus of $1.698 billion.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-11 09:15:27

Hana Bank and Technology Guarantee Fund Support SMEs with 65.7 Billion Won for Succession and M&A Seo Yoo-seok, Deputy Head of Hana Bank's Corporate Group (right), and Lee Sang-chang, Director of the Technology Guarantee Fund, pose for a photo during the 'Financial Support Agreement for Business Succession and M&A for SMEs' held on May 7. Hana Bank is set to provide financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in business succession and mergers and acquisitions (M&A). On May 11, Hana Bank announced that it has signed a 'Financial Support Agreement for Business Succession and M&A for SMEs' with the Technology Guarantee Fund. The agreement aims to assist SMEs facing challenges in business succession and to foster technology-driven companies. As part of the agreement, Hana Bank will contribute a total of 2 billion won to the Technology Guarantee Fund. This fund will then provide a total of 65.7 billion won in guarantees. The guarantee includes 30 billion won through special contributions and 35.7 billion won through support for guarantee fees. The support will target companies pursuing business succession or M&A, providing them with working capital and facility funds. Eligible companies can receive guarantees of up to 100% and benefit from a reduction in guarantee fees of up to 0.7 percentage points. Recently, SMEs have faced ongoing difficulties in business succession due to the aging of founders and a lack of successors. Many companies, while possessing technological capabilities, struggle to secure funding during the succession process or find it challenging to pursue M&A for business expansion. Through this agreement, Hana Bank plans to alleviate the financial burden on SMEs pursuing M&A and support their growth potential. Seo Yoo-seok, Deputy Head of Hana Bank's Corporate Group, stated, "We will continue to provide comprehensive support to ensure that SMEs can secure growth momentum through active M&A and facilitate smooth business succession and technological innovation." 2026-05-11 09:12:20

Innocean Achieves Record Operating Profit in Q1 Driven by Film and World Cup Boost Innocean, the advertising affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group, reported its highest operating profit for the first quarter. Despite a contraction in the overall advertising market, the company saw growth driven by its expansion into the overseas film market and the World Cup. On May 11, Innocean announced that its first-quarter revenue reached 250.1 billion won, with an operating profit of 39.8 billion won and a net profit of 39.6 billion won. This represents increases of 7.7% in revenue, 33.3% in operating profit, and 134.5% in net profit compared to the same period last year. The company described these results as an 'earnings surprise,' significantly exceeding market expectations. This achievement was attributed to improved management of selling and administrative expenses through AI-driven process innovations and diversification of its global portfolio. The rise in first-quarter performance was largely due to the expansion of non-affiliated advertisers. Domestic revenue increased by 7.8% year-on-year to 50.3 billion won, while overseas revenue, particularly in North America and Europe, grew by 7.7% to 199.8 billion won. Innocean's U.S. media subsidiary, Canvas Worldwide, recently handled media execution for the science fiction film 'Project Hail Mary,' which was released globally. As Innocean continues to strengthen its capabilities in global sports marketing, it anticipates direct benefits from the upcoming 2026 North America World Cup marketing efforts starting in the second quarter. An Innocean representative stated, "As film and World Cup advertising commissions are fully accounted for, operating profit has significantly increased. This year, with many major events like the World Cup, we expect improved performance in the second half." In Europe, the company has maintained its growth trajectory through the expansion of digital services. Notably, it significantly increased the Genesis web service area from two countries to seven, contributing to strong performance. Innocean is also focusing on the rapidly growing emerging market of India, where the advertising market was valued at $13.8 billion (approximately 20.4 trillion won) last year. Growth is expected to continue at 8% this year and 9.7% next year. The company is successfully executing sports marketing linked to the Cricket World Cup and has recently established a new office in the Bengaluru area to enhance its local business capabilities. Shin Seung-ho, Innocean's Chief Financial Officer, stated, "The North American entertainment business and sports marketing are repeatable growth engines. We plan to continue expanding high-value businesses by region and industry to enhance profitability and corporate value."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-11 09:08:18

Chunmoo Rocket System Secures Additional Export Deal with Estonia On May 11, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) announced that it has signed a government-to-government (G2G) export contract with Estonia's Defense Investment Agency (ECDI) for the additional supply of the Chunmoo multiple launch rocket system. Under this contract, Hanwha Aerospace is set to deliver three Chunmoo launchers and associated equipment to Estonia by the end of 2027. The Chunmoo is a wheeled multiple launch rocket system developed independently by South Korea. It is a key asset in South Korea's preemptive strike system, known as the Kill Chain, capable of precision strikes with up to 12 rounds at a range of 80 kilometers. In comparison, the U.S. High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) can launch a maximum of six rounds at a range of 70 kilometers. Previously, KOTRA signed a comprehensive contract with Estonia in December of last year to ensure long-term supply of the Chunmoo system over the next decade, establishing a sustainable export foundation for medium and long-range artillery. This initial G2G export contract involved the supply of six Chunmoo launchers and three types of missiles, valued at approximately 300 million euros (about 500 billion won). This additional order comes just five months after the initial contract was signed. Since 2020, Estonia has successfully operated South Korea's K9 self-propelled howitzers, particularly praising the performance and durability of South Korean weapon systems in the harsh climatic conditions of Northern Europe, which is close to the Arctic. KOTRA President Kang Kyung-seong stated, "The swift conclusion of this additional contract reflects not only the superior performance of our weapon systems but also the deep trust the Estonian government has in South Korean defense technology. We will strengthen our collaboration as 'Team Korea' and focus our efforts on expanding K-defense exports."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-11 09:06:00

Hana Securities Maintains Target Price of 80,000 Won for Hankook Tire Amid Temporary Profit Decline Hana Securities reported on May 11 that Hankook Tire & Technology (Hankook Tire) is expected to experience a temporary decline in profitability due to rising raw material and shipping costs driven by increasing oil prices. However, the firm stated that the impact will not be significant and maintained its target price at 80,000 won with an investment recommendation of 'buy.' Song Seon-jae, a researcher at Hana Securities, noted, "Historically, we have seen a cycle of 'cost increase - profitability decline - price increase - profitability recovery,' and this time will be no different. We expect Hankook Tire to maintain high profitability in its tire segment through excellent cost control, price increases, and improved product mix." He also highlighted that the performance of its subsidiary, Hanon Systems, which had previously burdened the company's financials, is improving, and shareholder returns are expected to increase. Song projected that the rise in raw material costs due to the recent conflict in the Middle East will be reflected in contracts starting in the second quarter, with actual costs being incurred three months later and profit and loss impacts expected to be seen four to six months afterward. He added, "While the related impacts will be reflected in the second half of the year, they are not expected to be very significant." He further explained that diversifying the sources of raw materials will help mitigate the impact of rising costs, and price increases are being prepared regionally. Although there are factors that could increase shipping costs due to rising oil prices, he anticipates that overall shipping demand will decline, leading to contracts in the second half of the year being similar to or more favorable than those in the first half. Additionally, he stated, "Production increases at the Tennessee plant in the U.S. are proceeding as planned, and we expect profitability to rise to average tire margins once full capacity production is achieved in the second half of the year."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-11 08:58:03

Foreign Films Dominate Box Office After Holiday Weekend Despite the end of the holiday weekend, foreign films continued to perform strongly at the box office. During the weekend of May 8 to 10, "The Devil Wears Prada 2" and "Super Mario Galaxy" secured the top two spots, while the Korean horror film "Salmon" ranked third, maintaining its long-term success.According to the Korean Film Council's integrated ticketing system, "The Devil Wears Prada 2" was the top film of the weekend, attracting 195,514 viewers and bringing its total audience to 1,221,632.The sequel features the legendary fashion magazine editor Miranda and her former assistant Andy, who returns as a creative editor after 20 years. The film explores their reunion and the changing media landscape as they vie for dominance in the fashion industry. It has also been performing well internationally, having topped the North American box office for two consecutive weeks, with worldwide earnings exceeding $433.24 million, surpassing the first film's total of $326.58 million.In second place was "Super Mario Galaxy," which drew 184,014 viewers during the same period, bringing its cumulative audience to over 1.31 million. The film's success continued from the holiday weekend, appealing particularly to family audiences."Super Mario Galaxy" tells the story of brothers Mario and Luigi, who have grown from Brooklyn plumbers to heroes saving the world. In this installment, they embark on a new adventure to rescue Yoshi, who gets lost while on a mission in the Sand Kingdom. The film's family-friendly appeal has contributed to its steady audience flow during May, a month dedicated to families.Among Korean films, "Salmon" secured the third position, attracting 147,323 viewers from May 8 to 10, with a total audience of 3,022,847. Despite the strong performance of foreign films, it has consistently drawn viewers and continues to thrive at the box office."Salmon" is a horror film about a film crew that encounters something mysterious in a dark reservoir after capturing an unidentified shape on a road view. Directed by Lee Sang-min, it stars Kim Hye-yoon, Lee Jong-won, Kim Jun-han, Kim Young-sung, Oh Dong-min, Yoon Jae-chan, and Jang Da-ah. After surpassing the break-even point of 800,000 viewers shortly after its release, it crossed the 1 million mark within ten days and has since reached 3 million, thanks to positive word-of-mouth.This weekend's box office results reflect the continued momentum in theaters following the holiday season. "Super Mario Galaxy" and "The Devil Wears Prada 2" led the foreign film charge, while "Salmon" maintained its presence through strong word-of-mouth and sustained success.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-11 08:56:39

Jeon Hyun-hee Appointed Head of Seoul Campaign for Local Elections The Democratic Party announced the appointment of Jeon Hyun-hee, a former Supreme Council member, as the head of its Seoul campaign committee under the central election committee for the upcoming June 3 local elections. Jeon, who currently serves as the chief campaign officer for the party's Seoul mayoral candidate Jeong Won-o, will oversee election strategies and organizational operations across Seoul following her appointment on May 11. In her remarks, Jeon stated, "Seoul is the site of the citizens' 'Revolution of Light' that safeguarded democracy," expressing her determination to achieve victory in Seoul to completely resolve internal strife and ensure the triumph of democracy. She added, "I will work vigorously with the citizens of Seoul to ensure that the wave of change that began in the alleys leads to the realization of a 'true Republic of Korea' where the people are the masters." Previously, on May 10, the Democratic Party launched a party-wide election committee named 'Normalization of the Republic of Korea' in preparation for the local elections, transitioning into an election system. At that time, Jeon joined the alley campaign committee, taking a frontline role in the party's election efforts in Seoul, where she is expected to drive the party's success in the local elections.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-11 08:55:11